Overview
- After the 5–0 win over Zambia at La Bombonera, Rodrigo De Paul said the national team plays football and does not do politics, calling for unity before the 2026 World Cup.
- De Paul declined to discuss specific rumors about locker-room support for AFA chief Claudio Tapia and urged reporters to inform rather than spread disinformation.
- Hours after the match, Tapia posted photos with Lionel Messi and De Paul with the caption “vamos con todo,” returning to the spotlight as he faces a reported court processing in a tax case.
- Argentine outlets said De Paul’s remarks, paired with Tapia’s photos, created a symbolic scene that may bolster Tapia’s public image, though no internal split in the squad has been confirmed.
- The episode underscores how national-team gestures in Argentina carry political weight, raising stakes for players who insist on being judged only for their performance on the field.