"We proposed a double shift for ourselves and we have our trainer there and we give it our all." That's Rodrigo De Paul describing what Lionel Messi has been doing on top of his regular Inter Miami commitments — for the past two to three months — as he targets a second World Cup title in 2026.
At 38, Messi isn't winding down. He's adding sessions. The double-training routine goes beyond anything Inter Miami require of him, a self-imposed programme he and De Paul have been grinding through together with a personal trainer since early this year.
The numbers back it up
This isn't blind dedication for the sake of a feel-good story — you can see it in how Messi is actually playing. Twelve goals in 12 MLS matches this season, plus six assists. That's a direct goal involvement every single game, at an age when most players are managing minutes or managing exits.
Most recently, he scored and assisted in a 2-0 win over Portland Timbers, helping Inter Miami stay second in the standings with 28 points — two behind Nashville. A player coasting toward retirement doesn't put up those numbers.
What this means for Argentina's World Cup odds
Argentina are already among the favourites to defend the trophy on home soil — the tournament spans the USA, Canada, and Mexico, with Messi playing his club football in Miami. The familiarity with conditions is a genuine edge. Add a Messi who is structurally building toward peak form rather than hoping to find it at the tournament, and Argentina's price starts to look shorter by the week.
The real question isn't whether Messi will show up for the World Cup. It's whether he can stay fit through an MLS season and then a tournament. The double-training load is a calculated risk — but given what De Paul is describing, it looks like a calculated one.
"We kill ourselves to reach the best physical shape," De Paul said. At this point, that's not metaphor.
