Rodrigo De Paul is many things to Argentina.
Nicknamed ‘El Motorcito’ (The Little Engine), the 30-year-old has become the heart and soul of the defending Copa America champions. He is simultaneously a No 8 and a modern defensive midfielder who covers an incredible amount of ground. His selflessness and competitive attitude have given Argentina an edge that has complemented Lionel Messi’s magic.
The Atletico Madrid central midfielder has also been labeled Messi’s bodyguard due to his proximity to Messi in Argentina’s midfield and quick-tempered reactions when an opponent gets too physical with his captain.
De Paul is the ideal teammate and a new-age version of the traditional midfield enforcer. He doesn’t always resort to hard challenges to send a message. Instead, De Paul engages in psychological warfare with his opposite number.
Cunning and cerebral, De Paul’s appetite for mind games fuels him. Before the start of the 2024 Copa America, De Paul sat with Telemundo for a long-ranging interview where he revealed just how antagonistic he can be on match day.
“What I do is pick an enemy. Well, let’s say a rival because that doesn’t sound so bad,” said De Paul. “I look to engage in a dispute that will keep me alert. It’s not just that I want to win. I want to beat you. I make it personal.”
In the round of 16 at the 2022 World Cup, Argentina faced Australia at Ahmad bin Ali Stadium. Shortly before Messi scored the opening goal, Australian defender Aziz Behich tangled with Messi as they both chased a loose ball near the touchline. Messi and Behich briefly stared at each other. Seconds later, De Paul was there, his index finger pointed squarely at Behich’s face. An enemy had been chosen.
In the World Cup final against France, De Paul chose French striker Olivier Giroud. Before a France free kick near Argentina’s penalty area, Argentina midfielder Enzo Fernandez, who was marking Giroud, fell to the ground clutching his face. As Giroud sought to help the Chelsea midfielder off the ground, De Paul stormed in to confront the Frenchman.
De Paul confronts Olivier Giroud during the 2022 World Cup final (Jewel Samad/AFP via Getty Images)
De Paul told Telemundo that only one player has been immune to his intimidation. In the final of the 2021 Copa America against Brazil, an inspired Neymar tormented Argentina in the second half.
“I said some things to him, but he’s an animal,” said De Paul. “I told him after the match, ‘You’re phenomenal. No one can knock you off your axis’.”
De Paul is a high-energy player who is defined by his relentless running — but he seeks these types of incidents in a match to further elevate his adrenaline levels. It’s his unique way to center his mindset for battle. De Paul admitted to Telemundo that he doesn’t enjoy football matches. There’s a certain level of fear and anxiety that he experiences as kickoff nears that can only be shaken by a stiff challenge or a war of words with his opponent.
“The way I live a match, I don’t enjoy the 90 minutes,” De Paul said. “I enjoy the bus ride to the match, the music that we play. The morning mate (South American herbal tea), the dressing-room banter. I don’t want to play the match. I want to win it.”
Neymar hugs De Paul during the 2021 Copa America final (Carl De Souza/AFP via Getty Images)
In the first half of Argentina’s opening Copa America group-stage match against Canada, De Paul’s team-mate Leandro Paredes embellished a challenge by Canada striker Cyle Larin. A foul was called and Canada midfielder Stephen Eustaquio approached the referee, presumably to make a case against the Argentine’s theatrics. De Paul stepped in, his intense stare directed squarely at Eustaquio. He had identified his adversary for the night. The two exchanged words as play continued. De Paul took offense to Eustaquio’s attempt to influence the referee.
“Sometimes there’s real conflict with the other side, but there’s always respect,” said De Paul. “It stays on the pitch. The mental and psychological part of the game is important in football. It can be more important than what we do with our legs. There are guys who are great players, so you have to attack them from a different angle, all within the rules.”
There’s a fine line on which De Paul teeters in matches. He admitted that, off the pitch, he’s a bit like a class clown. De Paul speaks without a filter and he cracks jokes that make the introverted Messi cackle. Between the white lines, though, De Paul transforms into a man possessed by a primal urge to protect his flock.
Against Chile in Argentina’s second group stage match on Tuesday, De Paul needed little time to pinpoint his next enemy. Chile’s Gabriel Suazo had the task of shadowing Messi on Argentina’s right flank. He was physical with Messi from the start and De Paul immediately took notice. When Suazo swept Messi’s legs with a late challenge in the first half, a battle between De Paul and the Chilean quickly ensued.
Argentina pushed their lines forward, with De Paul now eager to step into Chile’s penalty area. He had one eye on the flow of the game and another on Suazo’s movements. When a loose ball popped up on the edge of Chile’s box, Suazo lunged to clear the ball. De Paul lined up a shot that looked more like a clearance, and on his follow-through, he stomped on Suazo’s exposed ankle. Play on, said the referee.
Minutes later, Suazo returned the favor with a late challenge on De Paul. Suazo was cautioned with a yellow card. Shortly before the first half ended, De Paul left a leg out as Suazo walked by him to take a throw-in. The two exchanged stares and both received a stern warning from the referee. After the match, Suazo’s wife Gabriela Rojas posted a series of photos of De Paul’s stomp.
“Looks like yellow cards were not allowed for the opposing team,” she wrote on Instagram. Rojas tagged De Paul’s Instagram handle and added, “You really are a dirty player. You could’ve injured him! You didn’t even apologize!”
After the match, a relaxed and jovial De Paul entered the MetLife Stadium mixed zone. He described the heated nature of the clash between two South American rivals. It wasn’t a revenge match he said, when reminded of Chile’s back-to-back Copa America final wins over Argentina in 2015 and 2016. When asked about his fiery temper on the pitch, De Paul smiled and leaned into his combative personality.
“I love to wear this shirt,” he said. “I approach every match as if it were my last. It was a game where we all got stuck in. I can’t complain because sometimes, you know, I give it too, but it stays there and it ends on the pitch. I play on the very edge but I know how to manage it. I’ve never been sent off or been given a yellow for those things while playing for Argentina.
“Some things get blown out of proportion. I live my life that way. Those who know me understand that. I know how far I can go. I respect my opponents. I may get animated and that draws attention to me. But that’s where it ends.”
De Paul is a product of Racing Club, one of Argentina’s biggest clubs. Racing has a rich history of developing elite players. De Paul and current center forward Lautaro Martinez are among the club’s proudest exports. Goals win games, but De Paul has proven to be the motor that keeps Argentina humming.
Argentina is headed to the knockout stage of this Copa America and De Paul will be ever-present, scanning the pitch for his next nemesis.
“Sometimes you’ll face some extraordinary players,” said De Paul. “They want to bring you into their space and I want to bring them into mine.”
(Top photo: Omar Vega/Getty Images)
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