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Published : 31 Jul 2025, 03:41 PM
Argentine midfielder Rodrigo De Paul made his debut after completing a surprise move to Inter Miami from Spanish giants Atletico Madrid, and played alongside Lionel Messi for the first time at club level.
The duo’s chemistry has long drawn attention, and they carried their winning momentum from the national team to the club level, securing a 2-1 victory over LIGA MX’s Atlas FC at Chase Stadium, powered by Messi’s two assists, in Wednesday's Leagues Cup 2025 Phase One.
De Paul was not able to have any training sessions with his new teammates before the match, but the World Cup winner’s quality was enough to support Messi and the team for 90 minutes.
The 31-year-old’s stats for the night also showcased the player's quality as he had a 93 percent pass completion rate along with three chances created, four accurate long balls, eight recoveries, three defensive actions, three duels won and three fouls drawn, according to MLSsoccer.
"We should enjoy having Messi and I should help him win titles, as that’s the most important thing,” De Paul was quoted as saying by The Touchline on X.
“He’s the greatest of all time, and I’m lucky to have played with him for many years and won many championships together.
"Sharing the club with him now is a great pride. When I tell my kids about this when I’m older, I’ll say I truly enjoyed it."
The midfielder has made 78 appearances for Argentina and lifted the 2022 World Cup with Messi.
