Leandro Daniel Paredes (Spanish pronunciation: [leˈandɾo paˈɾeðes]; born 29 June 1994) is an Argentine professional footballer who plays as a defensive midfielder for Argentine Primera División club Boca Juniors, which he captains, and the Argentina national team.
A Boca Juniors youth graduate, Paredes made his first-team debut for the club in November 2010. After loan spells to Chievo and Roma between 2014 and 2015, he signed permanently for the latter in July 2015. After moving to Russian side Zenit Saint Petersburg in 2017, he won the 2018–19 Russian Premier League title. In 2019, he moved to Paris Saint-Germain, where he won four Ligue 1 titles before returning to Roma in August 2023. In July 2025, he returned to his childhood club, Boca Juniors.
Paredes is a former Argentine youth international, representing his country at under-17 level. He made his senior debut for the Argentina national team in June 2017, and was later included in the squads for three Copa Américas (2019, 2021, 2024) and two FIFA World Cups (2022, 2026). Paredes won the 2019 and 2021 editions of the Copa América and the 2022 World Cup with Argentina.
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Club career
Boca Juniors
Paredes made his league debut for Boca Juniors in a 2–0 away defeat to Argentinos Juniors on 6 November 2010. On 29 January 2014, he joined Italian Serie A outfit Chievo on loan for the rest of the 2013–14 season. The loan was arranged by fellow Italian side Roma.
Roma
On 19 July 2014, Paredes joined Roma on loan, with an option to buy outright from Boca Juniors. On 27 September, Paredes made his Roma debut, as a second-half substitute in the 2–0 win against Hellas Verona. On 8 February 2015, Paredes scored his first Roma goal in the club's 2–1 victory against Cagliari. In June 2015, Roma signed Paredes for €6 million.
Zenit Saint Petersburg
On 1 July 2017, Russian Premier League side Zenit Saint Petersburg announced the signing of Paredes on a four-year contract. The fee was €23 million with a possible €4 million in add-ons. He won the 2018–19 Russian Premier League title with Zenit after a successful first place finish with 64 points.
Paris Saint-Germain
On 29 January 2019, French club Paris Saint-Germain announced the signing of Paredes on a four-and-a-half-year contract, for an initial €40 million, potentially rising to €47 million. He scored his first goal for the club in a 2–0 victory against Pau in the Coupe de France on 29 January 2020, exactly a year after signing for PSG, while wearing the captain's armband.
On 10 April 2021, Paredes scored his first Ligue 1 goal, a free-kick in a 4–1 win over Strasbourg.
On 31 August 2022, Paredes joined Serie A club Juventus on a season-long loan from PSG, with an option to buy.
Return to Roma
On 16 August 2023, Paredes returned to Serie A club Roma, signing a contract until 30 June 2025. A transfer fee in the region of €4 million was reported.
Return to Boca Juniors
On 11 July 2025, Paredes returned to his boyhood club Boca Juniors, taking the number 5 shirt from Rodrigo Battaglia.
International career
Senior debut
On 19 May 2017, Paredes received his first senior call-up by newly appointed coach Jorge Sampaoli for Argentina's friendlies against Brazil and Singapore in June. He made his senior international debut in the match against Singapore on 13 June, helping Argentina to a 6–0 away win, and also marked his debut by scoring his first international goal.
2018 FIFA World Cup
In May 2018, he was named in Argentina's preliminary 35-man squad for the 2018 FIFA World Cup in Russia but did not make the final 23.
2019 Copa América
On 21 May 2019, Paredes was included in Lionel Scaloni's final 23-man Argentina squad for the 2019 Copa América. Following Argentina's third-place achievement, Paredes was listed among the "Best XI" team of the tournament.
2021 Copa América
In June 2021, he was included in Lionel Scaloni's final Argentina 28-man squad for the 2021 Copa América. In the semi-finals of the competition on 6 July, Argentina played against Colombia and the match eventually went into a penalty-shootout during which Paredes successfully converted his spot-kick to help Argentina progress to the final. In the final on 10 July, Paredes won his first Copa América title when Argentina defeated Brazil 1–0.
2022 FIFA World Cup
On 11 November 2022, Paredes was named in Argentina's final 26-man squad for the 2022 FIFA World Cup. During Argentina's quarterfinal match against the Netherlands on 9 December, Paredes fouled Nathan Aké with a dangerous slide tackle, then deliberately struck the ball into the Dutch substitutes bench, prompting a brawl. Paredes scored in the penalty shootout against the Netherlands, winning 4–3 for Argentina after the game was tied 2–2 after extra-time. On 18 December, Paredes scored the penultimate penalty in the shootout against France in the final, winning the penalty-shootout 4–2, after the game was tied 3–3 after extra-time.
2024 Copa América
In June 2024, Paredes was included in Scaloni's final 26-man Argentina squad for the 2024 Copa América. He made six appearances over the course of the tournament and came on in the 97th minute of Argentina's 1–0 win over Colombia in the final.
2026 FIFA World Cup
On 28 May 2026, Paredes was named in Argentina's final 26-man squad for the 2026 FIFA World Cup.
Personal life
Paredes is married to fellow Argentine Camila Galante, a childhood sweetheart whom he met when he was a teen. They met through Camila's brother, who played football with Paredes at the Boca Juniors youth academy. Paredes had Camila's name tattooed on himself before they started dating. They started dating in 2010 and got married on 28 December 2017. The couple has three children: a daughter named Victoria, and two sons named Giovanni and Lautaro.
His cousin Franco is also a professional footballer.
Paredes is of Paraguayan descent through his mother and speaks fluent Guaraní.
Career statistics
Club
As of match played 9 October 2026
International
As of match played 19 July 2026
Scores and results list Argentina's goal tally first, score column indicates score after each Paredes goal.
Honours
Boca Juniors
Argentine Primera División: Apertura 2011
Copa Argentina: 2011–12
Zenit Saint Petersburg
Russian Premier League: 2018–19
Paris Saint-Germain
Ligue 1: 2018–19, 2019–20, 2021–22, 2022–23
Coupe de France: 2019–20, 2020–21; runner-up: 2018–19
Coupe de la Ligue: 2019–20
Trophée des Champions: 2019, 2020, 2022
UEFA Champions League runner-up: 2019–20
Argentina
FIFA World Cup: 2022; runner-up: 2026
Copa América: 2021, 2024
CONMEBOL–UEFA Cup of Champions: 2022
Individual
Copa América Team of the Tournament: 2019