Leandro Paredes #5

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Paredes is a symbol of the Lionel Scaloni era with the national team. He was part of the generational shift when the coach arrived and has remained a constant presence ever since. A natural leader in the locker room, competitive and strong-willed, Paredes combines elegance, physicality and temperament on the pitch. He is known for his excellent vision and passing ability, as well as his strong ball recoveries. He came through the ranks at Boca Juniors, the club where he currently plays as captain, having returned there last year after 11 seasons in Europe that took him to teams including Roma, Paris St-Germain and Juventus. He is very close to key players in the squad such as Lionel Messi, Ángel Di María and Rodrigo De Paul and is considered one of the team’s leaders. Beyond football his other sporting passion is padel, which he plays frequently. “I play whenever I get the chance but I’m not the one who’s good at it,” Paulo Dybala said once. “Leandro’s the one who’s great, no doubt about it.”

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