How Lionel Messi is preparing to peak for Argentina at the 2026 World Cup
Inter Miami duo Messi and Rodrigo De Paul are pushing themselves hard as Argentina’s World Cup roster decision approaches.
Major League Soccer is entering its final phase of matches before the league pauses ahead of the 2026 World Cup. Players across the league are now balancing club commitments with increasing focus on international preparation, aiming to peak physically for the tournament.
Among those doing exactly that are Inter Miami teammates and Argentina stars Lionel Messi and Rodrigo De Paul, both expected to be key figures in Lionel Scaloni’s final World Cup squad.
Extra training sessions at Inter Miami
In an interview with Argentine journalist Alejandro “Pollo” Álvarez, De Paul revealed that he and Messi have added a dedicated training routine on top of their regular club work at Inter Miami.
“We’re preparing for that (the World Cup),” De Paul said. “For the past two or three months, we’ve had a daily training plan beyond what we do at the club. We push ourselves hard to arrive in the best possible physical shape. We do double sessions with the coach and we go all in.”
The added workload reflects the urgency both players feel as they aim to arrive in peak condition for Argentina’s defense of their 2022 World Cup title.
Argentina roster decision approaching
Lionel Scaloni is expected to announce Argentina’s 26-man World Cup roster in the coming days. Both Messi and De Paul are widely expected to be included, making Inter Miami’s remaining MLS matches especially significant.
Inter Miami have two regular-season games left before the temporary league shutdown.
First, they host the Portland Timbers on Sunday. Then they face the Philadelphia Union on May 24 in their final match before a one-month pause for the World Cup.
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