Leandro Paredes and the 'dark side' that's hard to fix at age 32.
Leandro Paredes' unsportsmanlike kick to an opponent's back in the Argentine league continues his string of uncontrolled behavior, overshadowing the talent of a midfield maestro.
In the 68th minute of the 2-2 draw between Boca Juniors and Newell's Old Boys in the third round of the Argentine national championship, Facundo Guch was lying on the ground after a collision. Everything should have stopped at the referee's whistle. However, Leandro Paredes created a controversial moment. The 32-year-old midfielder walked over and deliberately kicked the ball directly into the back of his opponent, who was lying in pain.
A yellow card was immediately shown. But the đáng thing wasn't the on-field punishment, but the weariness from both experts and fans. Many fans bitterly commented that this talented midfielder almost never learns his lesson after losing control.
The instinct to destroy talent.
Paredes never lacked footballing intelligence. His career was built on his exceptional ability to control the tempo, his highly accurate long passes, and his sharp tactical thinking that elevated the midfields of Paris Saint-Germain and Roma. However, alongside that tactical mind was always a hot temper ready to explode.
The unsportsmanlike conduct against Newell's Old Boys was not a momentary outburst, but the latest link in a long-standing series of incidents. Whenever a game goes wrong or pressure builds, Paredes chooses to relieve it through violent and provocative behavior.
The scandal system spanned multiple levels.
Looking back at the Argentine midfielder's playing career, it's easy to see a dangerous habit that has emerged at both club and national team levels:
- 2022 World Cup Quarterfinals:He committed a brutal foul on Nathan Ake and then unleashed a thunderous shot straight into the Dutch technical area, sparking a chaotic brawl.
- Playing for Roma (2024):He received two yellow cards in quick succession within seconds for his excessive reaction to the referee during the match against Genoa.
- Copa Sudamericana (July 2026):He was involved in a heated altercation that forced referee Wilmar Roldan to intervene and push him off the pitch during the match against O'Higgins.
- 2026 World Cup Final:Following the 0-1 defeat against Spain, Paredes was placed under disciplinary investigation by FIFA for his unsportsmanlike conduct during a post-match altercation with Nahuel Molina and Nicolas Otamendi.
The price of being short-tempered.
At the age of 32, a period that demands the composure and skill of a seasoned midfielder, Paredes has tarnished his own image. His devastating passes that tore through opposing defenses are gradually being overshadowed by yellow cards and waves of public criticism.
In modern football, self-restraint is a core element that determines the class of a great star. Paredes's repeated falling into his own psychological trap not only harmed Boca Juniors but also left his career legacy viewed with regret.
