As football legend Lionel Messi touched down in India for his much-celebrated GOAT India Tour 2025, thousands of fans flooded the streets to catch a glimpse of their idol. From Kolkata, Hyderabad, Mumbai to Delhi, the tour created unforgettable moments – but one name suddenly started trending alongside Messi: Rodrigo De Paul.
Social media quickly lit up with pictures and videos of Rodrigo De Paul standing close to Messi, leading netizens to jokingly call him “Messi’s bodyguard.” Known for his fierce loyalty and protective presence, De Paul famously shielded Messi during Argentina’s victorious FIFA World Cup 2022 campaign — earning him cult status among fans.
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Rodrigo De Paul is not a bodyguard, but an elite Argentine professional footballer. Born on May 24, 1994, in Buenos Aires, he plays as a midfielder for Inter Miami in Major League Soccer and the Argentina national team.
De Paul made his professional debut in 2013 with Racing Club when he came as a substitute for Diego Villar in a 3-0 defeat against Atletico de Rafaela. Later, he was transferred to Valencia for 6.5 million USD. He returned to Racing Club in 2016, but after a short stint, he went back to Europe and landed at Udinese, a football club based in Udine, Italy.
In 2021, after winning the Copa América with Argentina, De Paul signed a five-year deal with Atlético Madrid. His relentless work rate and tactical intelligence made him a key player under manager Lionel Scaloni.
Earlier in 2025, he joined Inter Miami on a six-month loan, reuniting with Messi – a partnership fans love to watch always.
Rodrigo’s mother is of Italian descent, which earned him Italian citizenship. De Paul was in a relationship with Argentine model Camila Homs for twelve years. They have two children together. In January 2022, the couple confirmed that they were separating. De Paul dated Argentine singer Tini from August 2021 to August 2023.
At the age of 14, De Paul was almost close to quitting football after the death of his grandfather, Osvaldo De Paul. He stopped attending training sessions, but his reserve team coach came to find him and convinced him to return to the club.
From viral moments to footballing excellence, Rodrigo De Paul is a star in his own right.
