Leandro Paredes has sent a clear signal about his desire to return to the Argentina national team, stating he feels part of the group and would be in the squad if not for his suspension. The 32-year-old Boca Juniors midfielder is serving a ten-match ban that ruled him out of November friendlies against Bolivia, Burkina Faso, and Benin, but he is keeping the door open for a future comeback.
The suspension, stemming from an incident after the World Cup final against Spain, has been labelled excessive by the player himself. Paredes compared his case to that of Spain's Gavi, who received only a one-match ban for a similar action. The Argentine Football Association is working to get the penalty reduced. If Argentina plays two matches in the November window, the player will have served half of his sentence.
Connection to the project
With 84 caps, two Copa América titles, a Finalissima, and being a world champion in Qatar 2022 and runner-up in 2026, Paredes is a historic pillar of this generation. His potential reintegration is also linked to the continuity of coach Lionel Scaloni, who is leading a renewal process ahead of the 2028 Copa América and the 2030 World Cup, following Lionel Messi's international retirement. The forward, incidentally, is the cycle's top scorer with 8 goals in 8 appearances, according to our verified data.
Paredes has not yet spoken personally with Scaloni about his future. "I haven't spoken with the coach yet, I'll surely stop by the training ground this week to say hello and see how everything is there," the player explained. He added firmly: "I feel part of those who are there. If I weren't suspended, I would surely be there."
Competitive context
While his situation is resolved, the national team faces a key moment. They sit first in World Cup qualifying with 9 points from a possible 9, after three wins. Their next fixture is a home match against Bolivia on October 1st, a rival they thrashed 6-0 in their last meeting in 2024. Fans can check the full schedule on our fixtures page and the updated table on standings.
The midfielder acknowledges the difficulty of maintaining the team's extremely high level. "I think for many it will be about thinking of a decision to continue or not," Paredes reflected. "It was a beautiful, spectacular process, we achieved important things." His visit to the Ezeiza training ground this week will be the first step in evaluating a possible return to the Albiceleste shirt he wore on 84 occasions.
