After his return to Boca Juniors, Leandro Paredes raised a question about his continuity in the Argentina National Team

The midfielder put on the Boca jersey again at La Bombonera and had a standout performance in the 1-0 victory against O'Higgins in the first leg of the Copa Sudamericana playoffs.

The 32-year-old midfielder provided a precise assist to Miguel Merentiel to score the only goal of the match, played the full 90 minutes, and received a standing ovation both before the match started and at the end.

After the match, Paredes confirmed a rumor that had circulated after the final against Spain: he played much of the World Cup with a rib injury.

"It hurt a lot at first. Then, with anti-inflammatories, I managed it," explained the former Roma and PSG player, revealing that he suffered a small fracture during the tournament.

The world champion in Qatar 2022 acknowledged that the runner-up finish still leaves a deep sadness within the Argentine squad.

"It's going to be a long process to overcome what we experienced. We achieved important things, but losing a final always hurts because we were very close again," he expressed.

Paredes also responded to the various rumors that arose around the final and was emphatic in analyzing the development of the match.

"Many things were said before and during the World Cup, but Spain was superior in the final," he stated, while urging to appreciate everything achieved by the Albiceleste in recent years.

Regarding his future with the Albiceleste jersey, Paredes avoided giving a definitive answer and acknowledged that he has not yet made a decision.

"I don't know if I'm ready to continue. It's a process, it needs to be digested, thought through, and not rushed into decisions," he maintained.