Rodrigo De Paul shared a heartfelt message on social media expressing his gratitude and admiration for Lionel Messi. He reflected on the pressure, doubt, and triumphant moments they shared together on Argentina's national team, expressing his long-held wish that all Argentines would truly understand Messi beyond his achievements on the football pitch.

De Paul wrote: "There's one thing I've always wanted to do over these years: for all Argentines to truly understand who you are. To know you when there are no cameras, no pitch—just you being yourself.

You never really liked this attention. You always felt that your boots were your best way of expressing yourself, and the pitch was where you could show this country everything you feel. And I was fortunate enough to see everything behind that.

Every training camp, every night before a final, all the pressure, fear, doubt, and criticism. I saw you experience moments that would be unbearable for anyone else. And I saw you get up the next day and keep going. You never made excuses, never blamed anyone, never needed to explain who you are to anyone.

Because if there's one thing that never changed about you, it's your love for this shirt, for this country. Even when it seems like there's nothing left to prove, you keep getting up because of that love.

So what you've done for the national team is so much bigger than the goals we scored or the titles we won... though we certainly won plenty of those, haha.

I always wished that people would admire you not just for what you do on the pitch, but for who you are as a person. Those of us who know you understand that you're incredible on the pitch, but you're even greater off it.

And I think Argentina finally knows that now.

I don't know if there's another player and country with a love story as great as the one you've created. Being by your side and experiencing all of this is a memory I'll treasure forever.

Seeing you lead us wearing the number 10 shirt and the captain's armband, you always made us feel protected. No matter what happened, we knew there was someone in front of us who would give everything for us.

And we did it, brother. We became world champions.

Over the years, I gradually understood that perhaps the best part isn't just lifting the trophy, but that we never lost who we truly are. The laughs, the journeys, the training camps, and everything no one saw—those are what matter most to me.

I'm truly fortunate to have been by your side during one of the most important moments in our history. Thank you for everything you did for us, for Argentina.

And thank you for letting me know Leo the way I always wished everyone would know him. The Leo who is great without the number 10 shirt, without the captain's armband, without even being on the pitch.

I love you, brother.

How proud I am to have experienced all of this with you! 🇦🇷❤️"

AI翻訳。

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