Rodrigo De Paul reveals Lionel Messi's promise during the 2022 World Cup
Argentine midfielder Rodrigo De Paul has revealed what Lionel Messi promised him ahead of the World Cup quarter-final match.
suffered an injury before the match against the Netherlands in the World cup quarter-finals stage.
Atletico Madrid midfielder has revealed that he wanted to play against the Netherlands through pain, but
Lionel Messiadvised him to sit out the match and promised him that he would do everything to make sure the team qualifies for the next round. De Paul eventually started the game and played for 66 minutes.
De Paul has told Fox Sports:
"I went to Messi’s room and he tells me, ‘don’t play, we’re going to get through the quarterfinals.’ It could have been the last game that I played in a World Cup, if in four years I still don’t get called.
"He told me, ‘I promise I’ll take you to the semi-finals but don’t risk that you’ll most likely be left out’.
"I didn’t know whether to contradict him. It’s very difficult because he doesn’t tell me as a captain, but as a friend or older brother.”
was up with two goals against the Netherlands, but Wout Weghorst scored two late goals to level the game. However, Argentina won the game on penalties and Messi’s team won the 2022 World Cup after victories against Croatia and France in their next two games in Qatar.
Atletico Madrid is in fourth place in La Liga and will face Celta Vigo on Sunday. The 28-year-old De Paul has scored two goals in 23 matches for Atletico this season.
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