Leandro Paredes Vows to Fight for Argentina Return Despite FIFA Ban

Leandro Paredes has insisted he still sees himself as part of Argentina’s plans despite serving a 10-match FIFA suspension that has removed him from Lionel Scaloni’s squad. The Boca Juniors captain made the point after leading his club to a 3-2 Copa Argentina quarter-final win over Racing Club on Sunday night, with uncertainty continuing over whether the 32-year-old will return to international football once his ban ends.

Key takeaways

• Paredes captained Boca Juniors in their 3-2 victory against Racing Club in the Copa Argentina last eight.
• The midfielder is unavailable to Argentina during a 10-game FIFA suspension following incidents after the 2026 World Cup final.
• He said he would be with the Argentina squad if he were eligible for selection.
• Lionel Messi is preparing for his official final appearance in Argentina colours during the current international window.
• Scaloni has been offered a two-year extension, including an option that could keep him in charge through 2030.

Paredes maintains Argentina commitment

The former Paris Saint-Germain player has not yet spoken with Scaloni about his situation, but said he may visit the national-team training base during the break to greet the group and check in with the staff. Paredes stressed that his absence is the result of suspension rather than a decision to step away from the Albiceleste.

His comments come after he raised questions about his longer-term international prospects around a month ago. With such a substantial ban still to serve, there has been growing speculation that his Argentina career could be nearing its end.

Paredes has been a seasoned presence in Argentina’s midfield, but Scaloni must now assess other options while he is barred from involvement. The coming matches will provide opportunities to examine alternative combinations before the next qualifying campaign.

Messi farewell headlines Argentina schedule

Argentina will play Bolivia at the Mario Alberto Kempes Stadium and Burkina Faso at El Monumental during the forthcoming friendlies. The central occasion of the window will be the meeting with Benin in Buenos Aires, when Messi is set to make his landmark final national-team appearance.

The 2022 world champions are entering a new phase with Messi’s farewell approaching, while the federation has underlined its confidence in Scaloni by offering him fresh terms. The proposed two-year deal also contains an option for the coach to remain in post until 2030.