Leandro Paredes weighs Argentina future
Leandro Daniel Paredes, Boca Juniors’ 32-year-old midfielder, said on September 1, 2026, that continuing with Argentina would be difficult after FIFA imposed a 10-match suspension following the World Cup final against Spain in New Jersey.
He linked his uncertainty to Lionel Messi’s August 31 retirement and his own suspension. Paredes also said he had not yet discussed his international future with Argentina coach Lionel Scaloni, but planned to speak soon.
Paredes receives suspension for 10 matches
FIFA suspended Paredes for 10 Argentina matches on Aug. 21, 2026, after incidents following Spain’s 1-0 World Cup final victory at New York New Jersey Stadium on July 19.
FIFA also fined Paredes $90,000. Argentina teammate Nahuel Molina received a seven-match suspension and a $90,000 fine, while Thiago Almada received a one-match suspension and a $30,000 fine. Assistant coach Roberto Ayala received a three-match suspension and $30,000 fine.
Lionel Messi retires from Argentina
Lionel Messi announced his retirement from Argentina’s national team on Aug. 31, 2026, at age 39, ending a senior international career with 207 appearances and 125 goals. He won the 2021 and 2024 Copa América titles, the 2022 World Cup and the 2022 Finalissima.
Paredes said Messi’s departure was another reason continuing with Argentina would be difficult. He also said he had not yet discussed his future with Lionel Scaloni but planned to do so.
Lionel Messi leaves record numbers
Messi finished as Argentina’s record appearance holder and leading scorer after a senior international career that began in 2005. His 207 matches and 125 goals set national records that remained intact after his retirement announcement.
The Argentine Football Association marked his departure by pausing local matches for 60 seconds at the 10th minute. The tribute referenced Messi’s No. 10 shirt and applied across several domestic competition categories during that weekend.
Paredes built his Argentina career
Paredes made his senior Argentina debut on June 13, 2017, against Singapore, scoring in the 6-0 friendly. Under Lionel Scaloni, he later joined squads that won four major international titles from 2021 through 2024.
Paredes was born in San Justo, Buenos Aires, and began his professional career with Boca Juniors. His national-team years later included title-winning squads at Copa América, the Finalissima, and the World Cup together under Scaloni.
Paredes faces the 2030 calendar
Paredes was 32 when he questioned his future with Argentina in September 2026. FIFA’s current 2030 plans place Argentina among the countries hosting a centenary celebration match, but the published schedule lists those matches for June 8-9 rather than June 29.
His 10-match suspension also affects his availability. FIFA said the suspension would be carried over to Argentina’s next matches, while AFA specified that the sanctions must be served in the next official matches involving the senior men’s national team.
Argentina prepares for next match window
Argentina’s next international window runs from Sept. 21 through Oct. 6, 2026, and permits up to four matches. The AFA has since confirmed three home friendlies: Bolivia on Sept. 30, Burkina Faso on Oct. 3 and Benin on Oct. 6.
Paredes remains suspended for Argentina’s upcoming official matches under FIFA’s disciplinary ruling. AFA has specified that his suspension must be served in the next official matches involving the senior men’s national team.
Lionel Scaloni remains part of the choice
Paredes said he had not spoken with Lionel Scaloni before making his public comments. His decision, therefore, remained personal, while the Argentina coach still had a role in discussing the midfielder’s place in future squads.
Scaloni marked eight years as Argentina coach on September 7, 2026. During that span, he guided the team through title runs and remained in charge as the federation prepared for its first post-Messi international window.
Boca Juniors gives Paredes club stability
Boca Juniors brought Paredes back in July 2025 after more than a decade in European football. He began his professional career with Boca Juniors in 2010 before later playing for Roma, Zenit St. Petersburg, Paris Saint-Germain and Juventus.
Paredes signed with Boca through Dec. 31, 2028. His long-term club contract gives him a confirmed professional future in Buenos Aires while his international future remains unresolved.
Paredes shared Argentina’s trophy run
Argentina won the Copa América 2021 at the Maracanã, the 2022 World Cup in Qatar, and the Copa América 2024 in Miami. Paredes served in those squads during the national team’s most successful recent period under Scaloni.
In the 2024 Copa América final, Paredes regained possession during the 112th-minute move that ended with Lautaro Martínez scoring against Colombia. That sequence showed his contribution in a close title match at Hard Rock Stadium.
Fun fact: A fan liked Paredes’s crucial 2026 World Cup tackle against Egypt so much that he had the exact moment tattooed within hours of Argentina’s 3-2 win.
Spain won the 2026 World Cup final
Spain defeated Argentina 1-0 after extra time on July 19, 2026, at New York New Jersey Stadium. Ferran Torres scored the winner in the 106th minute of the World Cup final, Spain’s second men’s World Cup title.
Argentina entered extra time with 10 players after Enzo Fernández was sent off late in regulation. Spain then broke the deadlock through Torres and secured the title.
Paredes weighs separate developments
Paredes had not announced a final decision when he spoke on September 1. He said continuing with Argentina would be difficult because of his suspension, Messi’s retirement, and the wider transition facing the national team.
FIFA issued Paredes’s 10-match suspension on August 21, 10 days before Messi announced his retirement. Those separate developments shaped the midfielder’s comments, but he still planned to discuss his future directly with Lionel Scaloni soon.
LIV Golf branded ‘morally bankrupt’ after $5.5 billion spent, showing how the league’s massive Saudi-backed investment has collided with bankruptcy and a proposed restructuring.
Paredes has not made a final decision
Paredes’s international future remained unresolved after 81 appearances and five goals for Argentina. FIFA imposed a 10-match suspension following the World Cup final, and AFA said the sanction must be served in Argentina’s next official senior men’s matches.
His decision involves more than immediate availability. Paredes has said Messi’s retirement and his own suspension have made continuing with Argentina difficult, while he also planned to discuss his future with Lionel Scaloni.
In other news, Trump’s Bedminster score sparks wild LIV Golf comparison.
Could Argentina’s changing roster convince Leandro Paredes to continue, or does Lionel Messi’s retirement make this the right moment for another transition? Share your thoughts in the comments below!
This slideshow was made with AI assistance and human editing.
Read More From This Brand:
