Leandro Paredes, the Argentine football sensation, found himself in the spotlight for all the wrong reasons during the World Cup final against Spain. Despite being central to a post-match brawl, the 32-year-old managed to stay on the pitch without a red card. However, this may be the end of his journey with Argentina’s national team.
Following the heated match, where Argentina fell 1-0 after extra time, Paredes shared his uncertainties about continuing his international career. Speaking to ESPN, he hinted at possibly stepping down: “It’s a long process to overcome what we experienced. Decisions must be made calmly.”
Paredes, whose World Cup journey began with a memorable contribution in the 2022 final, has already returned to club action with Boca Juniors. He captained the team to victory in the Copa Sudamericana shortly after the World Cup, showing no signs of slowing down at the club level.
Meanwhile, criticism rained down from pundits like Gary Neville and former players during the BBC coverage, focusing on Paredes’ behaviour, which some called “disgraceful”. FIFA’s disciplinary committee has stepped in for a closer look at the match chaos.
Despite the final’s painful loss, Paredes emphasised the extraordinary process and achievements of the team, which brought joy and pride to their fans. “Although we lost the final, we had a World Cup where people saw themselves reflected,” he reflected.
What’s next for Paredes is a big question mark, but one thing’s for sure—he’s not stepping away from the action anytime soon.