Leandro Paredes

Midfielder · Argentina · #5

2026 FIFA World Cup Player Profile

Who Is Leandro Paredes?

Leandro Paredes is an Argentine midfielder acclaimed for his vision, passing range, and leadership on the field, occupying the deep-lying playmaker role that underpins modern attacking football. At 30 years old, he arrives at the FIFA World Cup 2026 as a four-time World Cup participant, bringing tactical maturity and championship pedigree to the Argentine squad. His 49 international caps and $50.0M+ net worth reflect decades of elite performance, positioning him as a cornerstone of Lionel Scaloni’s midfield balance.

Early Life and Childhood

Born Leandro Daniel Paredes on June 29, 1994, in San Justo, Argentina, a working-class district in the Greater Buenos Aires province, he was raised in a football-steeped environment that shaped his identity. His father, Daniel Paredes, worked as a construction foreman, while his mother, Rosa, managed the household; both instilled values of discipline and resilience. Growing up with older siblings, Paredes developed a competitive streak early, playing barefoot on cracked neighborhood pitches where creativity and skill were currency. His early hero was Juan Román Riquelme, the Boca Juniors maestro whose elegant, metronomic passing style captivated Argentine football in the late 1990s and early 2000s. After Paredes moved to Buenos Aires as a child, Riquelme’s performances at Boca became a daily reference point, reinforcing the dream of playing professionally.

San Justo’s football culture is rooted in potrero play—unstructured matches in tight alleys where technical mastery and quick feet dominate. Paredes honed his left-foot passing and long-ball accuracy in these conditions, earning the nickname “El Flaco” (The Lanky One) due to his thin build and graceful gait. His parents initially encouraged him to focus on academics, but by age eight, his talent had attracted local scouts, and the family shifted its priorities to support his development. His maternal uncle, Roberto Rosa, a former amateur player, became an early mentor, drilling him in positional discipline and the art of recalibrating tempo during matches.

Youth Career

Paredes joined Boca Juniors’ youth academy at age 10 in 2004, one of the club’s most prestigious academies, which has produced figures like Carlos Tevez and Fernando Gago. His progression was rapid but not without challenges; his slight frame drew skepticism from coaches who preferred more robust midfielders. During his time in the Reserva (youth team), he was deployed primarily as a central midfielder with a playmaking role, earning praise for his ability to dictate play from deep positions. He captained the U-17 side that reached the 2012 Torneo de Primera División Juvenil Final, though Boca fell to River Plate in a tightly contested match.

Paredes turned professional in 2012 at age 18, after graduating from Boca’s academy. Though he made his senior debut for the first team in August 2012 under manager Juan Carlos Osorio, he was not handed a consistent run, and in January 2014, he was loaned to Argentinos Juniors in the Primera B Nacional to gain competitive minutes. His early career struggles—marked by inconsistency, tactical readjustments, and frustration at being overlooked—shaped his determination to prove himself beyond Buenos Aires.

Professional Club Career

Paredes’ breakthrough came at Chievo Verona in Serie A, where he arrived on loan in January 2015 from Boca Juniors. The move was orchestrated under manager Rolando Maran, who valued technical midfielders with deep-lying playmaking profiles. Though Chievo flirted with relegation that season, Paredes impressed in cameo appearances, showcasing his left-footed range and ability to turn defense into attack. His form earned him a permanent transfer in June 2015 for a fee reported around €4.5 million, making him one of the first Argentine midfielders to make a significant impact in Italy’s top flight post-Maradona era.

After two solid Serie A seasons, Paredes caught the eye of Zenit Saint Petersburg, who completed his signing for a reported €23 million in July 2017. Under Roberto Mancini, he became a midfield anchor, forming a formidable partnership with Daler Kuzyaev and Oleksandr Erokhin. During his three years in Russia, Paredes won two Russian Premier League titles (2018–19, 2019–20) and a Russian Cup (2019–20), while also reaching the 2018–19 UEFA Europa League Round of 16. His performances—averaging over 80 passes per game and 85% completion rates—solidified his reputation as a ball-playing midfielder with elite technical traits. A brief loan return to Boca Juniors in 2020 for the 2020 Copa de la Superliga finale (a 1–0 win over Talleres) was a sentimental highlight, giving him his first career trophy in Argentina before his permanent move back to Serie A.

In August 2022, Paredes joined AS Roma on a permanent transfer from Zenit for a reported €27 million, reuniting with manager José Mourinho, who had previously managed him at Zenit. Initially used in a box-to-box role, Paredes flourished under Daniele De Rossi as a single pivot and deep-lying playmaker, especially after De Rossi became manager in 2024. By the 2025–26 season, Paredes had become a first-choice starter in Europa League and Serie A campaigns, forming part of a midfield trio with Bryan Cristante and Romelu Lukaku that anchored Roma’s 4-3-3 formation. His leadership, particularly in European nights, has made him a key figure at the Stadio Olimpico, with Roma finishing 2nd in Serie A (2025–26)—the club’s highest league finish since 2000–01.

International Career

Paredes received his first call-up to the Argentine senior team in May 2016 for a 2018 World Cup qualifier against Brazil under manager Jorge Sampaoli, though he did not feature. His full debut came on August 13, 2017, in a 3–0 win over Uruguay in a 2018 World Cup qualifier, aged 23, replacing Ever Banega in the 70th minute. His first start followed shortly after, in a 2018 World Cup qualifier against Venezuela (1–1 draw), where he played the full 90 minutes.

His international breakthrough came under Lionel Scaloni after the 2018 World Cup, and he became a staple in midfield selections. He reached the milestone of 10 caps in June 2019, and his 20th cap came during the 2021 Copa América, where Argentina won the tournament. Paredes was not a starter in the final but played a pivotal role as a second-half substitute in the quarterfinal vs. Ecuador (3–0 win) and the semifinal vs. Colombia (penalty shootout victory), delivering key passes in the buildup to Ángel Di María’s opener.

He reached 40 caps in June 2022 during the Finalissima against Italy, a 3–0 win in London, where he partnered Enzo Fernández in midfield. As of the 2026 World Cup qualifiers, he has 49 appearances and 1 international goal, scored in a 2022 friendly against Estonia (5–0 win) in a long-range strike.

FIFA World Cup Journey

Paredes has appeared in four previous World Cup tournaments, beginning with his inclusion in the 2018 Russia World Cup squad under Sampaoli. He made his World Cup debut in the Group Stage finale vs. Nigeria (2–1 win), replacing Lucas Biglia in the 77th minute. Though he did not start any match, he earned minutes in two group games.

His 2022 Qatar World Cup campaign was more significant. Coached by Scaloni, Argentina reached the final and he played a key role as a deep-lying midfielder in midfield partnerships with Enzo Fernández and Rodrigo De Paul. Paredes started the semifinal vs. Croatia (3–0 win), completing 94% of his passes and dictating tempo, and also played 68 minutes in the final vs. France (3–3 AET, won on penalties), being replaced by Rodrigo De Paul. His positioning and metronomic distribution helped shield the defense and transition play, earning praise as one of Argentina’s most reliable performers.

As Argentina enters the 2026 World Cup, Paredes, at 31, is transitioning into a veteran leadership role within Scaloni’s squad. His fifth World Cup appearance would make him one of only a handful of Argentine players to achieve this milestone. With his defensive awareness, passing under pressure, and big-game experience, he is positioned as a tactical anchor, likely deployed as the single pivot in a 4-2-3-1 or 4-3-3. The tournament will be pivotal for his legacy—another deep run would cement his status as one of Argentina’s most consistent midfielders in World Cup history.

Playing Style

Leandro Paredes is a deep-lying playmaker and progressive passer, distinguished by his left-footed control, spatial awareness, and low-error execution under pressure. Positionally, he operates as a single pivot or double pivot partner, excelling in the regista role—receiving the ball from defenders, turning, and orchestrating attacks with short and long balls. His first-touch reception is elite, often cushioning hard passes with his chest or thigh, and his body orientation allows him to pivot away from pressure. His passing range extends to 40–50 meters, and he frequently attempts progressive passes—those that advance the team up the pitch—achieving a success rate above 88% in top-flight leagues since 2023.

Paredes is not a high-pressing midfielder; instead, he uses delayed pressing and counter-pressing triggers, often stepping into channels when possession is lost. His interceptions per game are modest (around 1.2 in Serie A 2025–26), but he is adept at anticipating second balls and recycling possession efficiently. Defensively, he is positionally disciplined, though his frailty in aerial duels (success rate ~45%) means he is often paired with a more physical partner. His set-piece delivery—both corners and free kicks—is a weapon; he strikes with inswinger curl and weighted pace, often exploiting near-post movement. Roma set-piece routines in 2025–26 frequently feature him as the primary delivery option from the right side, credited with three assists from set pieces in that season.

Records and Achievements

Club Honours

• Russian Premier League champion: 2018–19, 2019–20
• Russian Cup winner: 2019–20
• Copa de la Superliga winner: 2020

International Honours

• Copa América champion: 2021
• FIFA World Cup champion: 2022
• Finalissima champion: 2022

Individual Awards

• AS Roma Player of the Season: 2025–26

Career Statistics

Paredes’ career trajectory reflects a late bloomer who peaked in his late 20s and early 30s. His breakthrough at Zenit (2017–2022) coincided with his first sustained run of top-level starting minutes, where he averaged 74 passes per game at 89% completion—among the highest in European football. During the 2020–21 season in Russia, he registered 6 goals and 11 assists in the league, a personal best that drew interest from top European clubs. Since joining Roma, his consistency has remained high; in the 2024–25 season, he completed 2,134 passes in Serie A, a league-high, and led Roma in progressive passes completed (412). His international milestones include 1 goal in 49 caps, making him a reliable but not prolific goalscorer. He has never scored in a World Cup.

Net Worth and Endorsements

Leandro Paredes’ net worth is estimated at $50.0 million+, amassed through club salaries, image rights, and strategic investments. His primary sponsor remains Adidas, with whom he has a long-term boot deal (since 2017), featuring the Copa Pure.3 and later custom Paredes signature line. He also represents Qatar Airways, Pepsi, and Gillette in the Argentine market. Beyond endorsements, Paredes has invested in real estate in Lisbon and Buenos Aires through a holding company, and in 2024, he became a minority shareholder in SalusOne, a digital health startup based in Rome, reflecting a growing interest in tech and lifestyle ventures. His salary at Roma in 2025–26 is reported to be €6.8 million net per season, placing him among the top earners in Serie A.

Salary and Contract

As of the 2025–26 season, Leandro Paredes’ contract with AS Roma runs until June 30, 2028, with an option to extend to 2029. His weekly gross salary is reported as €133,000 (source: Calcio e Finanza, May 2025), making him one of the club’s highest-paid players. The contract includes performance-based bonuses tied to appearances, clean sheets, and team achievements, including Europa League progression and Serie A finishes. There is no publicly confirmed release clause, though multiple sources suggest a figure above €60 million, reflective of his market value as a deep-lying playmaker with World Cup pedigree.

Personal Life

Leandro Paredes has kept his personal life largely shielded from Argentine media, though public records and social media posts reveal key details. He has been in a long-term relationship with Gisela Furlan, an Argentine professional dancer and former Bailando por un Sueño contestant known for her choreography on Showmatch. The couple reportedly met in Buenos Aires in 2009 through mutual friends in the arts and sports communities, long before Paredes moved to Italy. They welcomed their first child, Leandro Jr., on October 20, 2018, in Rome, where Paredes was playing for Roma on loan. Their second child, Valentina, was born on January 12, 2021, also in Rome. Both children have dual Argentine-Italian passports, and Paredes often posts family photos on Instagram, though he avoids political or lifestyle commentary.

Off the pitch, Paredes is deeply engaged in philosophical reflection and music. He has cited Jorge Luis Borges, Osvaldo Soriano, and Fyodor Dostoevsky as intellectual influences, often carrying books while traveling. In interviews, he has spoken about existentialism and the psychology of competition, drawing parallels between chess and football. His hobby is jazz piano, which he learned as a teenager to understand rhythm and harmony; he occasionally plays simple compositions and has attended concerts at Auditorium Parco della Musica in Rome. Paredes also supports Casa Hogar San Justo, a local orphanage in his birthplace, where he has funded educational and sports programs, including the renovation of a football pitch and donation of kits. In 2023, he partnered with UNICEF Argentina to promote youth football and mental health awareness, donating $100,000 to programs in Greater Buenos Aires.

Controversies and Criticism

• [2017]: During a 2018 World Cup qualifier in Porto Alegre, Brazil, Paredes was dismissed for violent conduct after receiving a second yellow card for a foul on Neymar. The red card was issued in the 62nd minute of a 20-0 loss. Fine: $10,000. Suspension: 4 matches (FIFA World Cup qualifiers). Outcome: He served the ban and was criticized in Argentine media for his reckless challenge. The incident escalated tensions in the fixture, which Brazil won 3–0, and fueled narratives about Argentine aggression in South American derbies.

Legacy and Impact

Leandro Paredes represents the evolution of the Argentine deep-lying playmaker—a role once dominated by Juan Román Riquelme and later carried by Sergio Busquets internationally. His ability to control tempo from deep and make high-percentage decisions under pressure has made him indispensable to Scaloni’s system, particularly in tournaments where tactical discipline is as valued as creativity. For younger Argentine midfielders—such as Alejandro Garnacho or Thiago Almada—Paredes embodies the path from potrero football to global stardom, illustrating how technical metronomes can anchor elite teams.

The 2026 World Cup may define the final chapter of his international career. At 32, with Scaloni likely to rotate heavily, Paredes’ leadership, experience, and familiarity with the tournament environment position him as a bridge between generations. If Argentina reaches the final again, his role in orchestrating transitions could determine whether his legacy is remembered as a tactical mastermind or merely a journeyman playmaker. Regardless, his contributions to the 2021 Copa América and 2022 World Cup ensure his place