Leandro Paredes believes Lionel Messi went into Sunday’s World Cup final at MetLife Stadium convinced it would be his last match in an Argentina shirt.
The Boca Juniors midfielder spoke in the mixed zone at La Bombonera on Thursday night, minutes after setting up Miguel Merentiel’s 44th-minute winner in a 1-0 Copa Sudamericana playoff over O’Higgins. It was his first club match since the final.
“It hurts because I think we said it throughout the World Cup, we didn’t want the last match to arrive,” Paredes said.
“I think he had made a decision that it was his last match with the national team.”
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He added a plea:
“Hopefully not, hopefully he can keep playing.”
No public word from Messi
Messi, 39, has said nothing publicly about his international future since the 1-0 extra-time defeat to Spain.
He was in tears at full time and his only statement since has been a social media post thanking teammates and supporters, without a word on retirement.
Argentina planning a home farewell
Argentina is planning a home tribute match so Messi can be given a proper send-off in front of his own supporters, announced in advance so thousands of fans can attend. Nothing has been decided or announced.
The retirements have started elsewhere in the squad. Nicolás Otamendi confirmed on Thursday that Sunday’s defeat was his last match for Argentina, ending his international career with 139 caps.
Messi is signed to Inter Miami through the 2028 MLS season.
Paredes also unsure of his own future
Paredes, 32, sounded no more settled about his own place in the squad after his role in the ugly post-final scenes with Spain’s players. Asked whether he would carry on, he refused to commit.
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“I don’t know if I’m up for carrying on. It’s a process, you have to digest it, think about it, not make hurried decisions, but it has to be talked about,” he said.
The Boca return leg in Rancagua is on 30 July.
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