Leandro Paredes, the Argentina midfielder who was at the centre of a post-match brawl after the World Cup final defeat to Spain, is weighing up his international future. The 32-year-old, who avoided a red card despite his involvement in the altercation, told ESPN he is considering whether to continue playing for Argentina.
Paredes' World Cup final involvement
Paredes came off the bench in the 2022 World Cup final, scoring in the penalty shoot-out victory over France, and also appeared as a substitute in the 2026 final against Spain in New Jersey. The match, which ended 1-0 to Spain after extra time, saw Paredes involved in a physical confrontation with Spanish players Eric Garcia and Gavi after the final whistle. His teammate Enzo Fernandez was sent off late in the match for a second bookable offence.
Uncertain future
Speaking about his international career, Paredes said: "For many, it will be a decision whether to continue or not. It was a spectacular process. It will be very difficult to maintain this level and keep the group functioning in this way. You have to think, take stock, and talk to the coach. Decisions must be made calmly. I don't know if I'm going to go on. I think it's going to be a long process to overcome what we experienced."
The match was Paredes' 84th international cap, almost a decade after his debut. He has since returned to club action with Boca Juniors, captaining the side in a Copa Sudamericana victory over O'Higgins less than a week after the final, reportedly at his own request.
Reaction and disciplinary review
ITV pundit Gary Neville criticised Paredes, saying: "They're very competitive and I love that element of them, but [Paredes] has just been a disgrace for the last couple of games, and why the referees have allowed him to continue doing what he is doing..." FIFA's disciplinary committee has appointed a prosecutor to examine events after the final whistle, but Paredes escaped immediate punishment.
Reflecting on the defeat, Paredes added: "Although we achieved a lot, the pain of losing the final is going to hurt for a long time, because we were very close again. But we have to enjoy it because it's not easy to maintain the level we had for so long to achieve what we did. Although we lost the final, I think we had a World Cup where the people saw themselves reflected, and for us that is very gratifying."
