World Cup 2026: Matías Galarza sets unwanted defensive record despite Paraguay’s fight against France

Paraguay midfielder Matías Galarza finished the 2026 World Cup with an unwanted record after becoming the most-dribbled player at the tournament during his side’s 1-0 defeat to France in the Round of 16.

The 24-year-old’s performance in Philadelphia capped a difficult campaign from a defensive perspective, with tournament statistics showing he was beaten by opponents on the dribble 16 times across four appearances.

Despite the disappointing statistic and Paraguay’s elimination, Galarza remained proud of his team’s efforts against one of the favourites for the title.

Difficult tournament for Galarza

Galarza was frequently involved in defensive situations throughout Paraguay’s World Cup campaign, often tasked with containing attacking players in high-pressure matches.

However, the tournament proved challenging for the midfielder.

Across Paraguay’s four matches, he was dribbled past on 16 occasions, the highest total recorded by any player at the competition.

The figure underlined the defensive workload he faced as Paraguay battled to remain competitive against some of the tournament’s strongest teams.

His latest appearance came in the narrow defeat to France, where Paraguay exited the competition after pushing Les Bleus throughout the contest.

Emotional after final whistle

Following Paraguay’s elimination, Galarza struggled to hide his emotions.

The midfielder appeared close to tears while speaking in the mixed zone after the match, reflecting the disappointment of seeing his country’s World Cup journey come to an end.

Despite the result, he focused on Paraguay’s performance rather than the outcome.

“They are the best team in the world and they finished watching the clock. We are very proud of what we did.”

His comments reflected the belief within the Paraguay camp that they had challenged France despite eventually falling short.

Paraguay earn respect despite exit

Although Paraguay failed to progress to the quarter-finals, they tested France in a closely contested encounter that was decided by a single goal.

The South American side remained organised for much of the match and forced France to work hard for victory.

Galarza’s assessment highlighted the pride felt within the squad after competing against a team widely regarded as one of the strongest in the tournament.

While the statistics surrounding his individual performances may attract attention, the midfielder chose instead to emphasise the collective effort shown by Paraguay.

Campaign ends with mixed emotions

The World Cup concluded with contrasting emotions for Galarza.

On one hand, the midfielder leaves the tournament with an unwanted individual defensive record.

On the other, he departs believing Paraguay matched one of the competition’s leading teams for long periods before their elimination.

As Paraguay reflect on their World Cup campaign, Galarza’s performances and reaction after the match illustrate both the personal challenges and collective determination that defined the team’s run.