Former Argentina winger Maxi Rodriguez has said that Lionel Messi — the eight-time Ballon d'Or winner — remains as hungry and determined as ever, with his sights firmly set on winning a second FIFA World Cup title when the 2026 edition kicks off on 11 June. Rodriguez, who shared a dressing room with Messi for over a decade in the national team, made the remarks in an interview with FIFA ahead of the tournament.

Rodriguez on Messi's motivation

Speaking about his former teammate, Rodriguez was unequivocal about what continues to drive the Argentina captain. 'Messi is fuelled by his hunger for glory and his desire to make history again. He keeps going — nothing can stop him. He plays for the pride of representing his country: nothing else crosses his mind, not even breaking records. He wants to be crowned a world champion again. He's putting everything on the line once more because that hunger is part of who he is,' Rodriguez said.

'Without that mindset and drive, he wouldn't have achieved everything that he has. That's why we're still able to enjoy another World Cup with him in Argentina's iconic No. 10 shirt,' he added. Messi captained Argentina to World Cup glory in Qatar in 2022, ending a 36-year wait for the country's third world title.

A dressing room with two legends

Rodriguez also reflected on the extraordinary experience of sharing a dressing room with both Messi and the late Diego Maradona during the 2010 FIFA World Cup in South Africa — a moment he described as surreal.

'It was amazing. I grew up watching Diego and his generation. He was my idol. Then, suddenly, we had Leo there too — the two greatest footballers the world has ever seen, with us every day. It felt like something out of a film,' Rodriguez said. He recalled post-training sessions where both Maradona and Messi would take free-kicks together: 'We would watch on in awe as Diego and Leo struck the ball. It was madness.'

Rodriguez, who appeared at the 2006, 2010, and 2014 World Cups for Argentina, said he considers himself fortunate to have been coached by Maradona and to have played alongside Messi for more than ten years. 'One coached me, and I played with Leo for more than ten years with the national team. Those are the kinds of experiences you never think will happen to you,' he said.

Humility sets Messi apart

Beyond the records and the trophies, Rodriguez singled out Messi's character as his most defining quality. 'What Leo has done is beyond words, but what really sets him apart is his humility,' he said. It is a sentiment echoed widely among former teammates and coaches across Messi's two-decade international career.

Argentina's path at World Cup 2026

The defending champions have been drawn into Group J alongside Jordan, Algeria, and Austria — a relatively favourable bracket that could ease their passage to the knockout rounds. With Messi leading the squad and a settled core from the 2022 Qatar triumph, Argentina enter the tournament as one of the frontrunners. The FIFA World Cup 2026 is set to be co-hosted across the United States, Canada, and Mexico, with the opening match scheduled for 11 June 2026.