Leandro Paredes Played a Full 90 Five Days After the World Cup: And His Critics Are Feeling the Heat

Leandro Paredes, the same player who faced widespread and deserved criticism for his behavior after Argentina’s World Cup final defeat, was back on the pitch for Boca Juniors in the Copa Sudamericana just five days later. He played the full 90 minutes and even provided the winning assist against O’Higgins. Yeah, you read that right. Five. Days.

The Wildest Turnaround Nobody Expected

Remember all that chatter about Paredes not coming across as a good loser? The massive backlash he rightfully earned for that incident involving Gavi after the final? Well, while most of his national teammates are kicking back on a well-deserved vacation, recovering from the grueling tournament, Paredes was out there in the Copa Sudamericana, playing a full 90 minutes for Boca Juniors. Not only was he *on* the pitch, he was *the* guy. He even dropped the assist for Boca Juniors’ winning goal against O’Higgins. This dude just does not quit. He was in the thick of a major club competition, giving everything he had, just days after the biggest game of his career.

Grit or Recklessness? The Rib Rumors Swirl

It’s like, did this guy even take a breather? And then you hear the whispers, right? Media reports are fueling rumors that Paredes played the last three matches of the World Cup with a cracked rib. A *cracked rib*! If that’s true, forget the post-game stuff for a second, this dude was grinding through immense pain on the biggest stage. Being back on the pitch just five days after such an exhausting tournament, giving absolutely everything for his club, it’s certainly impressive. You can’t deny the sheer grit. But it also makes you wonder about the long-term impact of pushing his body like that.

Here’s the kicker: does this insane display of commitment wipe the slate clean for his widely criticized behavior after the World Cup final? That incident involving Gavi, where he absolutely did not come across as a good loser, earned him plenty of backlash. The source says it best, whether the football world will forgive him so quickly is “something everyone has to decide for themselves.” Paredes just made that decision a whole lot harder for a lot of people. You have to wonder what he’ll do next for Boca Juniors in the Copa Sudamericana. This saga is far from over.

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Originally reported by Yahoo Sports.