“The shot against the Dutch bench was on purpose” - Leandro Paredes breaks silence on controversial moment from 2022 FIFA World Cup

Nearly two years have passed since Argentina’s triumph in Qatar, yet many dramatic moments from the 2022 FIFA World Cup remain fresh in the memories of the supporters. One of the moments was the infamous brawl between Argentina and the Netherlands in the quarter-finals.

Things kicked off after Leandro Paredes blasted the ball into the Dutch bench, leading to a heated confrontation between both teams. Paredes, who played a key role for La Albiceleste during the tournament, has now admitted that he deliberately kicked the ball at the Dutch players.

Argentina had been in control of that match, going 2-0 up with Nahuel Molina’s 35th-minute strike and a Lionel Messi penalty in the 73rd minute. However, the Dutch fought back, with substitute Wout Weghorst scoring in the 83rd minute to reignite the contest.

The final moments of the game became chaotic, with Paredes heavily involved in a series of challenges. Tensions boiled over when the AS Roma midfielder made a sliding tackle on Nathan Ake, followed by kicking the ball towards the Dutch bench where their players were seated.

This escalated into a brawl, with players from both sides shoving and pushing each other. Paredes received a yellow card for the incident, and the 30-year-old has now revealed that he intentionally hit the ball because of the comments made by the Dutch players.

"The shot against the Dutch bench was on purpose. Now that enough time has passed, we can say it. It was because of the comments made by their players and the coaching staff, the ball ended up there, and I kicked it. On top of that, I missed," he said (via All About Argentina on X).

Weghorst then equalized in stoppage time, setting up a dramatic finish but Argentina ultimately advanced to the semi-finals after Emiliano Martinez’s heroics in the penalty shootout. The South American nation went on to win the FIFA World Cup, defeating Croatia in the semi-finals and France in the final.

When Lionel Messi reflected on his emotions after winning the FIFA World Cup 2022

Lionel Messi faced immense pressure when he arrived in Qatar as it was considered his last World Cup and Argentina were labeled early favorites. History, however, was not on their side, as La Albiceleste had not won a FIFA World Cup since Diego Maradona famously lifted the trophy in 1986.

Yet, after Argentina’s victory, Messi, who had often faced criticism in his own country, received widespread praise and cemented his place in the country’s history. Reflecting on the victory in 2023, the former Barcelona forward expressed his happiness at being ‘loved’ after winning the FIFA World Cup.

“I had a bad time. My family and the people who love me did too. [Critics in Argentina] were very unfair to a generation of players and they said a lot of bad things about me. I’m not spiteful. I feel it like a triumph for me to have changed that situation and won over all the people of Argentina. Today 95% or 100% of Argentines love me and that’s a beautiful feeling," he said last year (via ESPN).

Since their FIFA World Cup success, Lionel Messi and Argentina have only continued to improve, having won the Copa America this summer. They are expected to once again be among the favorites when the next World Cup comes around in 2026.