Officially: France's nemesis joins Messi at Inter Miami
The Paraguayan player has made a great enemy of the French fans
The American club Inter Miami announced on Thursday the signing of Paraguayan midfielder Matías Gallardo, arriving from Argentina's River Plate on loan until the end of the 2026 season, with an option to buy.
The 24-year-old now joins Lionel Messi's side.
Gallardo was one of the players who most angered the French fans during the meeting between Paraguay and France in the round of 16 of the 2026 World Cup, which France won 1-0.
According to the French network "Monte Carlo", Gallardo deliberately provoked and clashed with the France players in an attempt to throw Kylian Mbappé and his teammates off their concentration.
The newspaper "L'Équipe" documented several clashes involving the player, including an elbow to Mbappé, a clash with Jules Koundé and an altercation with Michael Olise.
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But there was more to his tournament than the physical, provocative side. He was one of Paraguay's most prominent players in the first round.
His decisive strike won the game against Turkey 1-0, and he provided an assist during the tournament before Paraguay carved their way to the round of 16. In total, Gallardo played 19 international matches with Paraguay, scoring 4 goals and providing two assists, according to "Opta" data.
His move to Inter Miami comes after a turbulent spell with River Plate. The player joined the Argentine club in July 2025 from Talleres, having previously played in Brazil with Vasco da Gama and Coritiba, and he began his career in the ranks of Paraguay's Olimpia.
Gallardo never nailed down a regular starting spot with River. He appeared in only 14 matches without a goal or an assist, before a loan move to Atlanta United in February 2026. There he made a good start and turned heads with his ability to play in more than one midfield role, before returning to River Plate at the end of his loan spell.
