De Paul set to join Messi at Inter Miami

FORT LAUDERDALE, Florida — Another close friend of Lionel Messi will soon arrive in South Florida.

Argentine midfielder Rodrigo De Paul has agreed contract terms with Inter Miami, a person familiar with the negotiations told reporters on Wednesday.

The 31-year-old De Paul will leave Atletico Madrid — where he's played since 2021 — for Major League Soccer on a short-term contract with Inter Miami that could potentially lead to a multiyear deal. He had one year left on his contract at Atletico.

ESPN was first to report the deal.

De Paul and national teammate Messi hope to continue to elevate Inter Miami, which has reached historic heights since Messi's arrival in 2023. The Herons reached the knockout stage of the Club World Cup and have won their past five MLS matches before Wednesday, as they eye a second straight Supporters' Shield.

De Paul could put on the club's now famous pink shirt in time for the start of Leagues Cup play later this month, though his exact arrival date is uncertain, said the person, who spoke on condition of anonymity because the signing has not been announced.

The deal, which has been in the works for several weeks, comes as negotiations between Messi and Inter Miami on a contract extension remain ongoing.

The eight-time Ballon d'Or winner's current contract expires at the end of December, and he is expected to return to the club for at least another season.

The signing of De Paul adds another veteran with whom 38-year-old Messi already has chemistry, along with 37-year-old Sergio Busquets, Luis Suarez, 38, and Jordi Alba, 36.

Messi, Busquets and Alba are Miami's three Designated Players, with salaries higher than the league maximum. Alba has already signed a contract extension to remain with Inter Miami through the 2027 season. Busquets has not yet renewed his contract, which expires at the end of the season. If Busquets does not return, that could free up a spot for De Paul among Miami's Designated Players.

De Paul has been a key player for Atletico since joining the Spanish club from Italian team Udinese in 2021. He helped Argentina win the World Cup in 2022 and was part of its Copa America victories in 2021 and 2024.

Messi and Inter Miami are coming off a historic 2024 season, in which they finished with the best record in MLS history and the best winning percentage in league history, only to be quickly bounced from the MLS playoffs.

Goal streak ends

Messi's MLS-record streak of scoring multiple goals in five straight matches ended with Wednesday night's 3-0 defeat to FC Cincinnati.

Cincinnati got a first-half goal from Gerardo Valenzuela and two second-half strikes from Evander to remain one point behind the Philadelphia Union in the Eastern Conference standings.

Philadelphia beat CF Montreal 2-1 on Wednesday night.

The loss also ended a five-match winning streak for Inter Miami (11-4-5) which is fifth in the Eastern Conference standings.

Messi is the first player in MLS history to have a multi-goal streak of more than four matches. He was tied for the league lead with 16 goals in 17 MLS matches.

Messi has only played in three matches against Cincinnati since coming to MLS, but the team has made things difficult for Messi.

On Wednesday, Cincinnati had four shots on target in the first 16 minutes compared with Miami's zero, and took a 1-0 lead when Valenzuela angled a shot from the left side of the box for his fifth goal of the season.

Messi's first shot came in the final minute of first-half stoppage time and landed comfortably in the arms of keeper Roman Celentano.

Evander's 14th goal of the season, and 50th in MLS, put Cincinnati two goals ahead less than five minutes into the second half.

Cincinnati (14-3-6) also had a two-goal lead on Saturday against Columbus Crew, but eventually lost 4-2. This time, though, Cincinnati held on, neutralizing Inter Miami's attack, led by Messi.

Evander sealed the victory when he made it 3-0 with a goal off a rebound, when Luca Orellano's shot caromed off the keeper.

Messi had a chance in the 78th minute, but his close-range shot was saved by a diving Celentano.

Messi has played 90-plus minutes in eight straight games, including four Club World Cup matches.

At one point in the second half, he had covered the least amount of distance of any player.

Agencies Via Xinhua