Why Leandro Paredes Could Be Argentina’s Most Important Change

When Argentina kick off against Egypt tonight, there will be a well-known figure back in their starting XI — one who may be there to stay. That player is Leandro Paredes. The 32-year-old Boca Juniors midfielder is expected to take on a deep-lying playmaker role, with coach Lionel Scaloni all but confirming the decision in his pre-match press conference.

The final confirmation will come when the defending champions announce their line-up for this World Cup 2026 Round of 16 tie in Atlanta. But speaking the day before the match, Paredes left little doubt about his desire to be involved. Addressing more than a hundred media representatives at Kennesaw University, he said:

“I’m feeling nice and relaxed, and I got to help the team, which is the most important thing for me. Hopefully, I can do so again tomorrow.”

Scaloni’s Assessment: The Team Works Differently With Him

Scaloni set out in the clearest terms the importance of Paredes to Argentina when speaking ahead of the Egypt match:

“He’s a player we know inside out so I don’t need to describe him. The team works differently when he’s on the pitch. Alexis has also done very well there, making a huge effort in a position that’s not naturally his own for a run of matches, not just in this competition. But Leandro has played as our number five in most matches. With him there, the team feels comfortable and can reach advanced players more directly. He’s a key player for us.”

The statement carries significant tactical weight. With Leandro Paredes anchoring the base of midfield, Enzo Fernandez and Alexis Mac Allister are freed to operate higher up the pitch — gaining precious yards in the attacking half and allowing Argentina’s forward line to receive the ball in more dangerous positions.

A Tournament of Limited Minutes — and the Reason Why

So far, Paredes’ involvement at World Cup 2026 has been measured and carefully managed.

Against Egypt, he is in line to make his 81st appearance for La Albiceleste.

The reason for his gradual reintroduction is straightforward, as Scaloni explained:

“Leandro came into the tournament injured — it’s as straightforward as that, nothing else. Unfortunately, he picked up the injury while with Boca but still made a huge effort to be here. Alexis was the natural replacement while Enzo has been used more as a midfielder who arrives in the box for his club. We chose Alexis to play there when Leandro wasn’t available so the main reason was that Leandro was injured.”

The Injury That Almost Kept Him Away

Paredes put his body on the line for Boca Juniors against Universidad Católica in the CONMEBOL Copa Libertadores. He took the risk and paid the price. Boca bowed out of the competition and the San Justo-born midfielder suffered a hamstring injury in his right leg. The date was 28 May.

As a consequence, Paredes was unable to feature in any of Argentina’s warm-up matches ahead of World Cup 2026. Now, 40 days since that injury, he wants to take up the baton and guide the defending champions into the quarter-finals.

The fact that he made the tournament at all — and has gradually worked his way back to a starting role — speaks to the same quality of sacrifice and commitment that has defined his international career.

A Habit of Delivering at Key Moments

The record books show that Leandro Paredes has a habit of delivering precisely when Argentina need him most. His only knockout-stage start at the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022 came in the semi-final against Croatia — but his influence across the tournament extended well beyond starting appearances.

The Copa América Final in 2024 was another occasion when Paredes began among the substitutes but still left a decisive mark. Argentina and Colombia were locked at 0-0. Lionel Messi had left the pitch injured in the 66th minute. As the superstar sat in tears on the touchline, Paredes came on seven minutes into extra time and immediately found himself at the heart of the action.

After 112 minutes, he regained the ball with a slide tackle in his own half, was involved again down the flank, and linked neatly with Giovani Lo Celso — whose pass released Lautaro Martinez to score the only goal of the match. Argentina were Copa América champions. Paredes, once again, had shaped the outcome without his name appearing anywhere near the top of the match report.

What Paredes Brings to Argentina’s Midfield

The return of Paredes to the starting XI fundamentally changes the structure and dynamic of Argentina’s midfield at World Cup 2026.

With Paredes at the base, Mac Allister and Fernandez are liberated from defensive duties that don’t align naturally with their best qualities. Mac Allister, in particular, has made an enormous effort playing the No.5 role during Paredes’ absence — a position that is not naturally his own, as Scaloni openly acknowledged. The return of Paredes allows Mac Allister to return to the more advanced role in which he consistently excels for Liverpool.

Paredes himself summarised the collective mentality of this Argentina squad simply and without embellishment:

“There is no easy match.”

A statement beyond dispute. Yet when Leandro Paredes is on the pitch, victory for Argentina feels that little bit closer — not because of flashy performances or individual brilliance, but because of the quiet authority with which he controls the game’s tempo, protects the ball, and connects the defensive line to the attackers ahead of him.

The Broader Picture: Argentina’s Road at World Cup 2026

Argentina arrive at the Round of 16 as defending World Cup champions. Their group stage campaign at World Cup 2026 has been navigated without their deep-lying midfielder operating at full capacity — yet they have still progressed comfortably.

The fact that they have performed at this level while managing Paredes back from injury is, in many ways, a testament to the depth and maturity of this squad. It also raises an obvious question: how much better can they be now that their key midfield organiser is available and ready to start?

The Round of 16 against Egypt in Atlanta will begin to answer that question. And if the pattern of Paredes’ international career is anything to go by — measured absences followed by decisive contributions at the moments that matter most — then Argentina’s timing in bringing him back could prove to be impeccable.

As Scaloni put it: with Paredes on the pitch, the team feels comfortable. At World Cup 2026, with a quarter-final place on the line, that comfort may make all the difference.

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