Paraguay midfielder Matias Galarza joins Lionel Messi at Inter Miami

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

The 24-year-old will now join Lionel Messi at the Major League Soccer club after Inter Miami confirmed the agreement on Thursday.

Galarza became a controversial figure among France supporters during Paraguay’s 1-0 defeat by France in the last 16 of the 2026 FIFA World Cup. Despite Paraguay’s exit, he was widely viewed as one of the most prominent players in the match because of his confrontational approach.

French broadcaster RMC Sport reported that Galarza repeatedly sought physical clashes and attempted to provoke France’s players, apparently 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, an altercation with Jules Kounde and a confrontation with Michael Olise.

Galarza’s influence at the tournament, however, was not limited to his physical style or his attempts to unsettle opponents. He had also played an important role for Paraguay during the group stage.

He scored the winning goal in a 1-0 victory over Turkey with a decisive strike and registered an assist during the competition before Paraguay progressed to the last 16. According to Opta data, Galarza has won 19 international caps for Paraguay, scoring four goals and creating two more.

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

The midfielder struggled to establish himself as a regular starter at River Plate. He made 14 appearances without scoring or providing an assist before moving on loan to Atlanta United in February 2026.

Galarza made a promising start in Major League Soccer, attracting attention for his ability to operate in several midfield roles. He returned to River Plate after his loan spell ended, but has now secured another move, this time to Inter Miami.

His arrival adds another midfielder to an Inter Miami squad built around Messi, while also giving Galarza the opportunity to revive his club career after limited opportunities at River Plate. The loan agreement runs through the end of the 2026 season and includes a purchase option, although the financial terms were not disclosed in the announcement.