Rodrigo De Paul, Lionel Messi’s teammate, was the one who took the now-iconic photos of Messi, including the legendary shots of him sleeping with the World Cup trophy. Instead, it was Rodrigo De Paul, Messi’s teammate and close friend, who captured those unforgettable shots that went viral worldwide. The idea for some of the famous photos, like Messi sleeping with the World Cup trophy, was also De Paul’s suggestion. He continued to accompany Messi in moments such as at Barcelona’s Camp Nou, taking emotionally charged pictures as a friend-turned-bodyguard-turned-photographer, showing his multi-faceted role around Messi’s life and career.
Famous photos of Messi
Additionally, one of the most famous football photos of Messi celebrating the legendary 6-1 comeback against PSG in 2017 was taken by Santiago Garces, not by any hired professional associated directly with Messi or his entourage. Garces, working for the club, captured the moment from a unique vantage point among many professional photographers, making this image a defining piece of Messi’s legacy.
3rd most viral photo of Instagram
The 3rd most viral photo on Instagram is clicked by Rodrigo De Paul, it is actually a famous post by Lionel Messi. This 3rd most liked photo shows Messi lying in bed with the FIFA World Cup trophy, shared shortly after his World Cup victory in 2022. The post has over 55 million likes and was shared by Messi himself on his Instagram handle.
The secret return to the Camp Nou
Lionel Messi’s secret return to Camp Nou was a private, impromptu visit on the night of November 9, 2025. He arrived without prior notification to FC Barcelona or club authorities and was accompanied by his Inter Miami and Argentina teammate Rodrigo De Paul, who took the photos Messi later shared on Instagram. The visit was emotional for Messi, who posted heartfelt messages expressing his love for the club and hope to return officially someday. Barcelona initially was unaware of the visit, and the security guards were surprised, but Messi was eventually allowed in. This visit reflects Messi’s strong connection to his former club and an unfinished story between him and Barcelona.
In summary, Messi’s iconic photos have primarily been taken by close associates like Rodrigo De Paul or club-affiliated photographers such as Santiago Garces, rather than hired professionals or official entourage photographers.