De Paul is pleased that Messi enjoys participating in the World Cup.

Argentine midfielder De Paul spoke about his friend Messi in an interview, saying that the superstar has put a lot of effort into the national team, and he was also happy that Messi could truly enjoy participating in the World Cup.

Argentina, the "Pampas Eagles," will face England, a team whose overall strength should not be underestimated, in the semi-finals of the 2026 World Cup.

In a key quarter-final match of the World Cup, Argentina defeated Switzerland 3-1 with goals from McAllister, Alvarez and Lautaro, successfully advancing to the semi-finals.

Speaking of his friend Messi, De Paul said, "I'm really happy to see Messi genuinely enjoying the game. Considering everything he's been through and sacrificed over the years wearing the Argentina jersey, it's especially gratifying to see him truly enjoying it all. I think this World Cup has truly allowed him to experience the joy that football brings."

“We all know his mentality, how he prepares for matches and how he approaches each game. But now, what I see is a Messi who is happy and enjoying football. As his friend, this makes me very happy.”

In addition, England, led by Tuchel, defeated Belgium 2-1 in the quarterfinals after trailing by one goal, thanks to two goals from Bellingham.

De Paul said, "Of course we have a lot to pay attention to because they are a very good team. They have many world-class players, and I also think they have a very good coach. That actually keeps us focused. All we do every day is make sure we can control these details and be fully prepared."

"We are now just one game away from standing on the World Cup final stage again, and nothing can motivate us more. Every player is eager to participate in the World Cup, and for us, every game is a final. We have always approached the game with this attitude."

De Paul also pointed out, "We will be facing a team we have never played against in the World Cup before. They are a world-class team and are performing very well. It will definitely be a great game. I personally love these kinds of big matches, but we must also control our emotions and not let our excitement affect our performance."

“We successfully defended our Copa America title, but I always believed that winning it again would be more difficult after winning it once. Ultimately, in a major tournament like the World Cup, the final outcome is often determined by some subtle and crucial factors.”

Image source: Internet