Lionel Messi is the main figure of Inter Miami. The Argentine footballer is the leader of David Beckham's team. Javier Mascherano and the club's management have filled the team with Argentinians. One of them was Baltasar Rodriguez. The Racing Club academy graduate revealed details of his time living with Messi. Baltasar Rodriguez is due to return to Argentine football. The South American midfielder will have to return to Racing Club at the end of the year. Rodriguez was with Inter Miami from October 2025 and had the opportunity to meet and live alongside Messi. This was a very high-pressure situation for the 22-year-old. “At first it was difficult because you don't want to make a mistake being there next to him, you want to do everything right. I always tried to pass him the ball perfectly, just like he does. If I passed it wrong, I wanted to die. I fulfilled a dream I never imagined,” Rodriguez said in an interview with Ole. Baltasar Rodriguez thought there would be a barrier from Messi around him. The Racing Club player believed there wouldn't be much interaction from Lionel. But Rodriguez was amazed by the Albiceleste captain's simplicity.

“I was very surprised. He's a very simple and humble guy. An incredible person. When I drank mate with him, I couldn't believe it,” he added.

Messi's playful side

Baltasar Rodriguez used to ask the former FC Barcelona player for advice. The player, born in Monte Hermoso, recalled that Lionel Messi sometimes showed his playful side, supported by other teammates like Luis Suarez and Rodrigo de Paul.

“Yes, I asked him a lot about my position and where to make a difference. 'You stand here and you'll make the difference,' he'd tell me. And then, for laughs, that little guy is terrible, he's a real joker. And with the arrival of Rodrigo (De Paul), they were even more powerful. The two of them together are terrible,” said Rodriguez.

Baltasar played 22 games for Inter Miami. Mentored by Javier Mascherano, Rodriguez took Telasco Segovia's starting position. In 1,081 minutes on the pitch, Baltasar scored 3 goals and provided 3 assists.