Nicolás Capaldo says the best part of his summer had little to do with Hamburger SV’s survival season and everything to do with Argentina. He trained alongside Lionel Messi during the June camp, made his debut against Honduras, and described the whole experience as a dream come true.
Capaldo's Messi moment
“It was very special for me to be part of the squad,” Capaldo told bundesliga.com. “I'm very grateful to have been given this opportunity. It really is a dream come true. Playing for the national team is the first thing you dream of as a child.”
He was just as direct about the camp itself. “Even though I wasn't in the final squad for the World Cup, I still feel nothing but pride. I trained there with the best footballers. The intensity and quality were so high. It was something very special.”
The Messi detail is the one that will linger. “He's the best player in history and has been my idol since I was a child,” Capaldo said. “Just looking at him made me emotional. He always gives his all and works incredibly hard. That inspires everyone.”
Hamburg's part in the story
The football context is still there. Capaldo made 26 Bundesliga appearances for Hamburg in 2025/26, and Hamburg finished 13th with 38 points after 34 matches. That is a survival season, not a comfortable one, which explains why a player who was useful all year ended up on Argentina’s radar.
Argentina are the reigning world champions, so the camp carried obvious weight. Capaldo still missed the final 26-man World Cup squad, but the trip ended with a senior debut and a training spell alongside Messi. For him, that was the point of the summer.
Written by Jack Mercer with AI-assisted research, cross-checked against 1 outlet. How we work →