The Incredible Journey Behind Leandro Paredes's Argentina Jersey

The Story Behind Paredes's Jersey

When Argentinian midfielder Leandro Paredes heard that his national team was set to play a World Cup qualifier against rivals Chile in Buenos Aires, he knew he had to be there. As a player for Zenit Saint Petersburg in Russia, getting back to Argentina on short notice would be no easy feat. But Paredes was willing to go to great lengths to support La Albiceleste in one of their most important matches in recent years.

Paredes's Incredible Journey

After hearing the news of the matchup, Paredes immediately made plans to fly back to Argentina. However, with such late notice, flights were extremely expensive and difficult to obtain. Paredes even looked into various multi-leg journeys with various stopovers to get back in time for the match, but had no luck.

As match day approached, an increasingly anxious Paredes realized that his only option would be to buy an exorbitantly expensive last minute plane ticket. The ticket cost him a full two weeks salary - but Paredes didn't care. Representing Argentina during a World Cup qualifier against Chile was priceless in his eyes.

Touching Down Just in Time

Miraculously, Paredes was able to buy the last seat on a flight that would get him back to Buenos Aires just hours before kickoff. The journey took nearly two days with lengthy layovers, but somehow Paredes made it in time while avoiding sleep entirely.

Shortly after arriving in Argentina just four hours before the start of the match, an exhausted but excited Paredes made his way to the Estadio Monumental dressed in his full Argentina kit. Reading his #5 jersey, it was clear that the incredible journey had been worth it for Paredes.

A Dramatic Match

The match itself did not disappoint. With the weight of World Cup qualification hanging in the balance, the bitter rivals played a tense 90 minutes in front of over 50,000 raucous spectators.

Both sides fought relentlessly for every ball, putting their bodies on the line with tough challenges and fearless defensive stands. Chile took an early 1-0 lead, but Argentina equalized before halftime to set up a dramatic second period.

Paredes Cheers from the Stands

Throughout the electric match, Paredes passionately cheered on his Argentinian teammates from the stands. Draped in the same blue and white striped jersey he had worn during his lengthy journey, Paredes shouted words of encouragement and waved his arms frenziedly after big plays.

When Argentina scored the winning goal with just minutes remaining, Paredes burst into a tearful celebration. His Argentina teammates below noticed his incredible display of passion, pointing and waving at their compatriot above after the final whistle.

More Than Just a Jersey

For Paredes, the blue and white Argentina jersey represents much more than just a shirt. It encapsulates years of sweat and sacrifice from his development in the Argentinian youth ranks to the pinnacle of representing his national team.

By embarking on a globe-spanning 30+ hour journey wearing the cherished jersey, Paredes showed just how much it means to him. In the end, enduring sleepless nights, multiple flights, and massive expenses proved worthwhile to cheer on Argentina for 90 minutes.

For Paredes, the Argentina jersey #5 on his back symbolizes national pride, personal identity, and profound passion for the game of football. And there are no limits to what he would do to honor it.

FAQs

Why did Paredes go through such an effort to get back to Argentina?

Paredes wanted to be there to support his national team in an important World Cup qualifier match against rivals Chile. Representing Argentina was incredibly important to him.

How was Paredes able to get a flight to Argentina on such short notice?

Paredes paid an extremely expensive last minute fare for the last available seat on a flight with multiple stopovers that got him to Buenos Aires just hours before the match.

What did Paredes do during the match?

Paredes passionately cheered for Argentina from the stands while wearing his Argentina jersey, shouting encouragements and celebrating wildly when they scored.

Why does Paredes cherish his Argentina jersey so much?

For Paredes, the Argentina jersey represents national pride, personal identity as a football player, and his profound passion for the game that drives his commitment and sacrifice.