Inter Miami midfielder Rodrigo De Paul shows he's more than Messi's sidekick | OneFootball

Batman and Robin. Captain America and Bucky. Messi and De Paul.

Their exploits for Inter Miami and the Argentine national team and their strong friendship ensures that last dynamic duo will be linked forever. They may not wear capes or sling shields, but they are heroes to millions of soccer fans -- and despite his reputation as Messi's on-field bodyguard, Rodrigo De Paul is more than a sidekick.

The box-to-box midfielder's quality was on full display Tuesday in Argentina's 3-0 World Cup group stage win against Algeria. Not only did De Paul provide a perfectly placed pass to Messi to set up La Albiceleste's first goal in the 17th minute, but he also finished with nine tackles, 14 interceptions, 4 clearances, 4 blocks and 92 percent of his passes completed.

Not bad for a bodyguard. But there was a time not so long ago when pundits -- and, perhaps subtly, Argentina coach Lionel Scaloni -- questioned whether De Paul would be ready to play in the 2026 World Cup.

Starting 2026, Inter Miami had to adapt to the retirement of Sergio Busquets and Jordi Alba, two of the greatest players of their generation. Former coach Javier Mascherano and interim coach Guillermo Hoyos both experimented with player combinations in midfield with tremendous pressure on De Paul to replace the defense, game control and dangerous long passing of Busquets and/or the playmaking and goal production of Alba.

It was too much. For much of the early season, De Paul seemed frustrated, failing to contribute on offense and slow to recover on defense. "El Motorcito" was grinding gears. That changed when Hoyos switched the Herons' formation from a 4-2-3-1 to a 4-3-2-1 and dropped Telasco Segovia into the midfield.

Segovia, 23, a Venezuelan national team player, typically has played as a playmaking midfielder, joining some combination of Messi, Luis Suárez, Germán Berterame or Mateo Silvetti in the attack. He's comfortable with the ball at his feet and a good passer who works hard on defense. Deploying him in the midfield let's De Paul move up into the attack while Segovia and Yannick Bright provide defensive coverage and help link the backline to Miami's forwards.

Back in a more familiar role, De Paul's form has improved. Inter Miami hasn't seen the all-around production he showed against Algeria, but it's comforting to see he still can perform at such a level.

Scaloni has dismissed concerns that De Paul made a mistake leaving Atlético Madrid to play for Inter Miami in Major League Soccer, and he's never called out De Paul by name. But, according to several Argentine media outlets, the 48-year-old coach issued a warning to his national team players in March, midway through De Paul's slump.

“The honeymoon is over. Being world champions is great, but you must be at your best for what’s next,” Scaloni told his players according to a March 31 report by World Soccer Talk. The coach didn't want his players becoming complacent after winning the 2022 World Cup and emphasized that fitness and current form would be more important than past successes when molding the 2026 squad.

That turned out not to be a problem for De Paul or Messi; thanks to their work ethic. De Paul revealed in an interview that he and Messi had been training on their own in addition to Inter Miami's requirements for several months before World Cup selection.

After the midfielder's performance against Algeria, the coach said De Paul "is playing at a very good level" but warned that "he can't relax."

"He knows he can’t relax," Scaloni said of De Paul after the Algeria match. "During the hydration break, I told him he can’t relax. He’s decisive when he doesn’t relax. He changed the game afterward."

Hopefully, the commitment De Paul is showing for his national team translates to his club side. With nine wins, two losses and four draws for 31 points, Inter Miami is second in MLS' Eastern Conference and fourth in the Supporters' Shield race. Miami has 15 more MLS matches remaining, beginning with Chicago at home July 22, and the Herons' Leagues Cup run begins Aug. 5 with Miami hosting Atlético de San Luis.

Leagues Cup, Supporters' Shield, MLS Cup -- Inter Miami still can win three trophies in 2026. None approach the prestige of the World Cup, soccer's ultimate hardware, but if the World Cup version of De Paul shows up for the rest of the Herons' season, 2026 could double Inter Miami's major trophy count (the Pink & Black earned the 2024 Supporters' Shield to go with the 2023 Leagues Cup and 2025 MLS Cup).

That would certainly be super for Herons fans.