Lionel Messi is unquestionably the most glimmering beacon of leadership in the Argentine national team. Recently Lionel Messi was left out of the squad from their outing against Bolivia in a World Cup qualifier, yet he chose to travel with the team.
Messi and Argentina have experienced the highs and lows of international football together. All his hard work paid off last year when he captained his nation to their third World Cup victory in Qatar. Lionel Messi’s recent actions at the national camp have earned praise from all of his teammates, with Rodrigo de Paul in particular.
Rodrigo de Paul praises Lionel Messi
Messi skipped his son Mateo’s birthday party to support his National side while being in the dugout. Lionel Messi was on national duty during the international breaks, as he was being called up for the Argentina squad for the next World Cup qualifiers.
In their previous fixture, Messi chipped a stunning freekick in a 1-0 win over Ecuador in the first World Cup Qualifier match.
However, for the game against Bolivia, Lionel Messi was kept out of the squad by Lionel Scaloni due to fitness concerns. But instead, he chose to join the team on the bench to support his team and looked quite happy.
Messi’s teammate and Atletico Madrid player Rodrigo de Paul has praised his captain for his dedication. Rodrigo de Paul said, “He could have gone away and enjoyed Mateo’s birthday, but he came here.”
Needless to say, de Paul and all the other Argentine nationals absolutely adore their captain and could very well ‘go to war for him’.
Recently, Messi joined the MLS club Inter Miami and has been in excellent form for his team. He is also leading the race for the FIFA Best Men’s Player Award 2023 alongside Manchester City’s Erling Haaland. The seven-time Ballon d’Or winner could also secure his eighth this year, given the world cup performances will be a significant factor in determining who makes this year’s Ballon d’Or podium.
Does Lionel Messi’s son also play soccer?
Seemingly all three of Lionel Messi’s sons play football with their father, but his elder two sons are also playing youth level football.
Lionel Messi’s eldest son, 10-year-old Thiago Messi, plays for Inter Miami’s U-12 team. The Inter Miami U-12 team competes in the Florida League, and he recently joined their youth setup following Messi’s high-profile transfer to MLS. Young Thiago Messi will undoubtedly be looking to follow in his father’s footsteps.
Messi and Antonella are childhood friends who are now married and have three kids together: Thiago, Mateo, and Ciro. It was Messi’s second son Mateo’s birthday who turned 8 on September 11, the celebration of which he skipped to join his teammates.
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