The Argentine midfielder Leandro Paredes has cast doubt over his international future, suggesting that continuing with the national side beyond the 2026 World Cup could prove difficult for him. The comments, which surfaced this week, add another layer of uncertainty around a generation of players that has already begun to confront the eventual departure of Lionel Messi from the Albiceleste setup.
For much of the last decade, Paredes has been one of the steady midfield presences for Argentina, a player trusted in the heavier matches and a respected voice inside the dressing room. His journey through the national team has mirrored the country’s long pursuit of international silverware. After years of near misses and heartbreak, Paredes was part of the squad that finally ended Argentina’s wait for a major trophy by winning the 2021 Copa América, and he remained a key figure during the 2022 World Cup campaign in Qatar, where Messi lifted the trophy that had eluded him for so long.
That victory in Lusail was widely viewed as the culmination of a cycle. It was Argentina’s third World Cup title and arguably the most emotionally charged of them, given Messi’s tortured history with the tournament. For many observers, the natural question after Qatar was how long the core of that squad would continue. Messi himself confirmed in recent years that his international career would be winding down, leaving a vacuum at the creative heart of the team that no obvious candidate has stepped in to fill.
Now Paredes, speaking in remarks reported by Argentine outlets, has acknowledged that the path forward is not straightforward. The 31-year-old indicated that continuing beyond the next World Cup in North America feels complicated, particularly given the team’s anticipated transition. While he did not announce a formal retirement, his tone echoed that of a player weighing whether the next phase belongs to a younger generation rather than to veterans of the Scaloni era.
The discussion also reflects the broader reality facing Lionel Scaloni’s staff. Since taking charge, the head coach has presided over one of the most successful stretches in Argentine football history, blending experienced names with emerging talents. Yet the natural cycle of the sport means that the core of that squad, which includes players like Ángel Di María and Nicolás Otamendi, is gradually moving toward the end of its run. Di María, like Messi, has already confirmed that he intends to step away after the upcoming tournament.
Argentina’s pathway to that tournament was confirmed earlier in the qualifying campaign, with the Albiceleste securing their place among the qualified sides well before the final matchdays. The competition itself, jointly hosted by the United States, Mexico and Canada, will mark the first World Cup staged across three host nations and is expected to be one of the largest tournaments in the competition’s history. For Argentina, the expectation will be to defend the title they won so dramatically in Qatar, but the makeup of the squad that travels to North America will be one of the most scrutinized decisions in world football.
Inside the Argentine setup, Paredes has often been regarded as more than simply a midfielder. He has served as a connector between senior stars and younger players, and his reading of the game has made him a useful asset in matches where Argentina need to control possession or dictate tempo. His club career, currently based in Europe, has also given him exposure to varied tactical environments, from the disciplined defensive structures of Italian football to the pressing demands of the top European leagues.
The uncertainty around his future also intersects with the wider conversation about the post-Messi era. Argentina have begun blooding younger midfielders, and the domestic league continues to produce talents who could be drafted into the senior setup. Whether Paredes chooses to remain available as an experienced option or decides to focus exclusively on his club career will likely depend on conversations with Scaloni and his own assessment of how he fits into the next phase.
For now, the Argentine Football Association has not publicly responded to the remarks, and it remains unclear whether Scaloni intends to discuss the matter in upcoming media appearances. What is clear, however, is that the conversation around Paredes reflects a team entering a delicate transition. The heroes of Lusail will not be around forever, and the decisions made in the coming months will shape the identity of Argentina’s national side for years to come.
