The midfield general who conquered Europe and returned to his roots
In short: From a teenage debut in Argentina to the heat of a World Cup final, Leandro Paredes has navigated the highest stakes in football. His journey through the elite clubs of Italy and France reveals a career defined by both clinical precision and intense, high-pressure moments.
Born on 29 June 1994, Leandro Paredes has established himself as a formidable defensive midfielder. His professional ascent began with Boca Juniors, where he made his league debut on 6 November 2010. After a series of influential loans and transfers, including stints at Chievo Verona and AS Roma, his market value surged. By 2017, Zenit Saint Petersburg secured his services for €23 million, followed by a high-profile move to Paris Saint-Germain in 2019 for an initial €40 million.
Paredes's international career with Argentina has been marked by both individual accolades and dramatic controversy. Under coach Lionel Scaloni, he was a key figure in the 2019 Copa América, earning a place in the tournament's 'Best XI'. However, his 2022 World Cup campaign provided some of his most polarizing moments. During a quarterfinal against the Netherlands, a moment of frustration involving a ball smashed toward the Dutch bench triggered a significant brawl, though he later proved his composure by scoring in the penalty shootout.
Despite the global stage, Paredes's career remains deeply connected to his origins. After years of competing in the Italian Serie A and French Ligue 1, he returned to his boyhood club, Boca Juniors, in July 2025. Beyond the pitch, his personal life is equally rooted in his beginnings; he married his childhood sweetheart, Camila Galante, with whom he began dating in 2010. A man of Paraguayan descent, Paredes also maintains his heritage through fluency in Guaraní.
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