Messi, the eight-time Ballon d'Or winner, has been praised by fans for his performance on the field, and Argentina midfielder De Paul said that Messi's every move is setting an example for his teammates.

Messi, 38, currently plays for Miami International and helped Argentina win the 2022 World Cup, which was also Messi's first World Cup title in his career.

De Paul said in an interview, "When I came to the national team and saw Messi, I said we would be champions. I didn't say this to boost morale, but I really believed it."

Recalling the 2022 World Cup group stage defeat to Saudi Arabia, De Paul shared in an interview, "We were very affected at the time, and the two of us had been talking in the room for hours. At first we were both frustrated, but by dinner time, we had changed the energy, and that conversation helped a lot."

"He would be quiet, but his actions were enough to set an example. For example, if lunch was at 1pm, he would arrive early, and he set the discipline without saying anything. Sometimes we just need to give each other a look and we know how to reorganize the formation, which makes the game flow more smoothly."

As for the World Cup final against France, De Paul said: "We were in control most of the time and that was probably our best game. But football changes so fast. The key turning point was Messi's goal against Mexico, and then Alvarez, McAllister and Enzo all had a huge impact and helped the team keep moving forward."

When talking about his personal career, De Paul said, "I once told my previous club that I only want to play in the Libertadores Cup and don't need to pay me. I'm not doing it for money, but I just want to stay in a place where I feel needed. Sometimes it's not about money, but the feeling the club gives you."

"When Udinese gave me the No. 10 jersey, which was the number worn by Di Natale, I felt that they trusted me at that moment, which was more important than the contract. Of course I worked hard, but money was not my driving force. I needed to feel valued, and that was the driving force that pushed me."

De Paul added, "Football is a very powerful thing in the world. Just one ball can inspire joy, sadness and pressure."