Leandro Paredes breaks silence after controversial World Cup final clash: “Greatest in history”
The Argentina midfielder issued an emotional message after drawing criticism for his actions during and after the loss to Spain in the World Cup final.
Leandro Paredes was one of the biggest talking points in the 2026 World Cup final, but not because of his play.
The Argentina midfielder came on in the second half after surprisingly losing his place in Lionel Scaloni’s starting lineup. Just six minutes after entering the match, he was shown a yellow card. On more than one occasion, he appeared fortunate not to receive a second booking.
Things only escalated after the final whistle. Paredes was involved in one of the tournament’s ugliest scenes, clashing with Spain’s Eric García and Gavi during a heated confrontation that turned physical.
After returning to Argentina, the Boca Juniors midfielder took to Instagram to share an emotional message with the country’s fans.
“With so much pain in my heart”
“Today, I write with so much pain in my heart because we couldn’t give our country the joy it deserved,” Paredes wrote.
Still, he said he was also filled with pride.
“My heart is full of pride because we gave everything we had and once again carried our flag as high as possible.”
A message for his teammates
Paredes also thanked the players who shared the journey with him throughout the tournament.
“Thank you to every single person who was part of this national team, to this group of players who gave everything to represent this jersey until the very last second of every match.”
He ended his message with a bold declaration, calling this squad “the greatest Argentina national team in history.”
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