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Papu Gómez Closes 2025 With Candid Post After Completing Doping Ban and Returning With Padova

The 2022 World Cup winner reflects on a painful rebuild following a two-year suspension.

Overview

  • Gómez shared an emotional year-end Instagram message, calling 2025 'a strange year' in which he felt both happiest and saddest.
  • He completed a two-year anti-doping suspension that stemmed from a test conducted before the 2022 World Cup, which he has said was caused by terbutaline from a child's cough syrup.
  • After serving the ban in October 2025, he signed for Calcio Padova in Italy's Serie B and has made four appearances without a goal or assist as he regains sharpness.
  • He has spoken about the personal toll of the layoff, saying he sought psychological help and leaned on family support while staying active through padel.
  • Now outside the Argentina national team setup, the 36-year-old says he intends to keep playing and hopes to extend his career for three or four more years.