Boca Juniors midfielder Leandro Paredes has once again found himself in trouble after receiving a yellow card for firing the ball directly at an opponent who was already falling to the ground during his side’s latest fixture.
The Argentine international, who previously represented both Roma and Paris Saint-Germain, was immediately cautioned by the referee for the unsporting act, which provoked furious reactions on the pitch.
Footage of the incident spread rapidly across social media, drawing widespread condemnation from supporters.
One fan commented: “He never learns.” Another declared: “How is he always involved in something like this?” Others branded it “Typical Paredes,” whilst one observer remarked: “The easiest yellow card you’ll ever see.”
Argentina midfielder Leandro Paredes fired a ball straight at an opponent and was booked
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X/@BBCSPORT
The episode only reinforces the 32-year-old’s growing notoriety for losing his composure.
The booking comes only weeks after Paredes was central to the ugly scenes that erupted at the conclusion of Argentina’s World Cup final loss to Spain.
Argentina went down 1-0 in the showpiece match, and the midfielder immediately became embroiled in a heated altercation with multiple Spanish players as chaos engulfed the pitch at full time.
It was subsequently alleged that Paredes threw a punch amid the disorder. Fellow Argentina internationals Nahuel Molina and Nicolas Otamendi were also caught up in the fracas, with both reportedly involved in a fiery exchange with Spain’s Rodri.
The post-match scenes added yet another black mark to a career increasingly defined by moments of indiscipline rather than the midfielder’s considerable technical gifts.
Paredes has a lengthy track record of such flashpoints. During the 2022 World Cup quarter-final against the Netherlands, he produced one of the tournament’s most memorable moments of controversy.
After controversy at the World Cup, Leandro Paredes has found himself in hot water again đŸ˜¬ pic.twitter.com/vGSMmG0eRL
— Match of the Day (@BBCMOTD) August 3, 2026
Having committed a wild foul on Nathan Ake, the midfielder proceeded to blast the ball into the Dutch technical area, sparking a mass confrontation that drew in players and coaching staff from both sides.
Virgil van Dijk responded by barging into Paredes and knocking him to the ground, with many observers feeling the Argentine was lucky to escape without a red card.
His disciplinary woes extended to his time in Serie A, too. In May 2024, whilst turning out for Roma against Genoa, Paredes collected two bookings within moments of each other after persistently remonstrating with the official, earning an early dismissal.
This latest caution will do nothing to alter Paredes’ standing as one of the most combustible figures in professional football.
The midfielder’s ability with the ball at his feet has never been in question, yet his inability to keep his emotions in check continues to overshadow his talent.
At 32, the pattern shows little sign of changing. Time and again, the Argentine has found himself at the centre of controversy, whether at club or international level.
Supporters are once more left asking whether Paredes is capable of curbing his worst instincts. His most recent moment of recklessness on the pitch suggests the answer remains firmly in the negative, with the midfielder seemingly destined to remain as polarising a presence as ever in the game.
