Lionel Messi may be entering the end of his legendary career, but the Inter Miami star has no intention of slowing down before the 2026 World Cup.
His teammate at club and national team, Rodrigo De Paul, has revealed that the eight-time Ballon d'Or winner is currently undergoing an intense physical transformation to be in top shape for the defense of his world title with Argentina.
Despite having already won every major trophy in world football, Messi is reportedly working harder than ever behind the scenes.
According to De Paul, the Inter Miami captain has added a second training session to his daily routine, beyond his normal commitments with the club.
Speaking in an interview with "Lo del Pollo", De Paul explained that this particular physical plan has been in place for several months.
"For two or three months now we have had a training plan beyond what we do with the club and we are both sacrificing ourselves to the maximum to achieve the best physical shape," the midfielder revealed.
"We proposed ourselves a program with two sessions a day and we have our coach there. We are giving it our all," he added.
Messi is in excellent form with Inter Miami in the 2026 MLS season, scoring 11 goals in 12 appearances and providing four assists.
The 38-year-old was once again the team's hero in the last game, when he scored two goals in a spectacular 5-3 victory over Cincinnati, a success that lifted the club to third place in the Eastern Conference.
In addition to the physical demands of elite football, De Paul also spoke about the personal challenges he experiences as a high-profile athlete.
Known for his energetic personality and TikTok videos with his daughter Francesca, the midfielder admitted that he experiences major emotional swings.
“I am a person with a lot of ups and downs,” he said.
"I have a lot of difficult moments. When I fall, I really fall. I'm not a neutral or lukewarm type," he concluded./Express newspaper/
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