Messi’s Inter Miami add Paraguay midfielder after France World Cup clash

Inter Miami have completed the signing of Paraguay midfielder Matias Galarza from River Plate on loan until the end of the 2026 season, with an option to make the move permanent.

The 24-year-old will join a squad led by Argentina captain Lionel Messi after the Major League Soccer club confirmed the agreement on Thursday.

Galarza became a prominent figure during Paraguay’s 2026 World Cup campaign, particularly in the last-16 meeting with France. Paraguay lost 1-0, but the midfielder was widely regarded as one of the players who most angered the French supporters during a fiercely contested match.

French broadcaster RMC Sport reported that Galarza repeatedly sought physical confrontations and attempted to provoke France’s players in an effort to disrupt the concentration of Kylian Mbappe and his team-mates.

L’Equipe also documented several incidents involving the midfielder. Those included an elbow on Mbappe, a confrontation with Jules Kounde and an exchange with Michael Olise.

Galarza’s contribution to Paraguay’s tournament, however, extended beyond those controversial moments. He had been one of his country’s most influential players during the group stage, scoring the winning goal in a 1-0 victory over Turkey with a decisive strike. He also provided an assist during the competition before Paraguay progressed to the last 16.

According to Opta data, Galarza has made 19 appearances for Paraguay, scoring four goals and creating two more.

His move to Inter Miami follows an inconsistent spell with River Plate. He joined the Argentine club in July 2025 from Talleres, having previously played in Brazil for Vasco da Gama and Coritiba. He began his career at Paraguayan club Olimpia.

Galarza struggled to establish himself as a regular starter at River Plate. He made 14 appearances without scoring or assisting before joining Atlanta United on loan in February 2026.

The midfielder made a promising start at Atlanta United, attracting attention for his ability to operate in several roles across midfield. He returned to River Plate when that loan spell ended, before now securing a move to Inter Miami.

The transfer gives Inter Miami another Paraguay international to add to a squad featuring Messi, while offering Galarza the opportunity to continue his career in the United States after a difficult period for regular first-team football in Argentina.

The source page also carried separate links relating to claims that FIFA had spent millions of dollars protecting the reputation of Gianni Infantino, and an investigation alleging that Infantino received gifts from Vladimir Putin and used FIFA for personal purposes. Those items were presented separately from the report of Galarza’s transfer.

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