Argentina midfielder Leandro Paredes has admitted it will be difficult to carry on playing for his country after being slapped with a 10-match ban for shamefully brawling with Spanish players at the World Cup.
The 32-year-old star, who furiously shoved Spain substitute Gavi to the floor at full-time after Argentina’s World Cup final defeat, was handed the lengthy suspension in August.
He faced three assault charges, while teammate Nahuel Molina faced two, and both players were also fined $90,000 (£66,000).
Paredes’ retirement hint comes just days after Argentina legend Lionel Messi announced he would be calling an end to his international career in an emotional post on Instagram.
The former PSG and Roma star admitted Messi’s retirement was another reason why he is weighing up his international future.
‘It’s going to be difficult for me to stay with the national team,’ Paredes told Argentine media on Tuesday.
Argentina’s World Cup villain Leandro Paredes has hinted he will retire from international duty
The midfielder was slapped with a 10-match ban for brawling with Spanish stars after the final
‘Because of the suspension as well, because of Leo’s decision … It’s going to be difficult for everything to carry on as before.
‘I haven’t discussed it with the coach (Lionel Scaloni) yet, but we’ll talk about it and see what decision I make.’
Paredes said Messi’s absence from the national team would be keenly felt.
‘Leo’s legacy will live on forever because of what he achieved, for never giving up and for showing that dreams are hard-won, pursued and, in the end, fulfilled…,’ Paredes added.
‘We’d spoken in the final days of the World Cup about how the final would surely be his last match, but even so, we weren’t prepared for that because of what he means to us.’
Responding to Messi’s post on Monday, Paredes dubbed the former Barcelona icon ‘the greatest of all’ in his tribute.
‘Thank you for absolutely everything,’ he wrote. ‘You are and always will be the greatest of all. We love you, captain.’
Messi announced his retirement from Argentina duty after 21 years in the team on Monday
In his post on Instagram, Messi added a note at the bottom of a statement to reveal that the death of his father Jorge at the start of the month made him ‘even more convinced than before’ about his decision, which he made two days after Argentina’s World Cup final heartbreak.
His statement on social media read: ‘After all this time that has passed since the final, and after much thought, I want to announce to everyone that I am retiring from the National Team…
‘It was a decision that hurt, and still hurts, to my core, but I understand that it’s the right time. I swear that I always gave my all, not just in the last few years when we won everything, but before that too. I always fought and gave everything for this jersey, to bring you joy and make you proud to be Argentinian through football.’
