Nico Paz at the 2026 World Cup: Argentina's Como prodigy makes history

Nicolás Paz Martínez — known as Nico Paz — is a 21-year-old Argentine attacking midfielder born on September 8, 2004, in Santa Cruz de Tenerife, Spain. He plays for Como in Serie A (Italy), wearing the number 10 shirt. His father is Pablo Paz, a former Argentina international who played at the 1998 FIFA World Cup. Nico grew up in Spain, moved through European academies, and was selected by Argentina for the 2026 World Cup — making history as the first Argentine player to appear at a World Cup without ever having played for a club in Argentina.

Yes — Nico Paz became the first player in the history of the Argentina national team to play at a FIFA World Cup without having any prior club experience in Argentina, including at youth level. He was born in Spain, developed at European clubs, and joined Como (Italy's Serie A) without ever representing an Argentine club at any stage. FIFA confirmed this unique milestone before the tournament began. His selection for Argentina's 26-man squad for the 2026 World Cup made him a symbol of the globalized generation of Argentine talent growing up abroad.

Nico Paz plays for Como in Italy's Serie A, where he wears the number 10 shirt. He had an impressive 2025/26 season with Como, registering 12 goals and 7 assists in Serie A — an output that confirmed him as one of the most exciting young midfielders in Italian football and earned him a spot in Argentina's World Cup squad. Como were promoted to Serie A in 2024 and Paz has been one of their standout performers.

Nico Paz is Argentine by nationality and represents Argentina internationally, though he was born in Santa Cruz de Tenerife, Spain. He chose to play for Argentina — rather than Spain — through his Argentine family roots. His father Pablo Paz is a former Argentine international who played for the national team at the 1998 FIFA World Cup in France. Nico has held Argentine nationality throughout his career and has never represented Spain at any level.

Nico Paz's father is Pablo Paz, a former professional footballer who played as a defender for Argentina and represented the national team at the 1998 FIFA World Cup in France. Pablo's international career meant Nico grew up in a football family with deep Argentine roots, despite being born and raised in Spain. The father-son World Cup connection — Pablo in 1998 and Nico in 2026 — adds a compelling personal narrative to an already historic individual story.

Nico Paz made his World Cup debut during Argentina's group stage campaign, coming on as a substitute in the match against Algeria (10 minutes) and playing 58 minutes against Iceland. He was an unused substitute in the match against Austria. While his direct statistical contribution in the tournament has been limited given his role off the bench, Paz's historic presence in the squad and his influence on the training pitch have been noted by Argentine coaches. His main impact in 2025/26 came at club level: 12 goals and 7 assists for Como in Serie A.

Nico Paz made his senior international debut for Argentina on October 15, 2024, in a 6-0 World Cup qualifying win over Bolivia. He came on as a substitute and registered an assist for Lionel Messi in that match — a debut that immediately drew attention. He had accumulated 8 international caps before the 2026 World Cup, with 1 goal, establishing himself as a future starter for Argentina at just 20 years old.

Nico Paz is trending after Argentina beat Jordan 3-1 on June 27, 2026 (Messi's 19th World Cup goal sealed the result in the 80th minute), pushing Argentina-related searches — including the squad and individual players — to the top of Google Trends across France and worldwide. His unique story — born in Spain, plays in Italy, represents Argentina, son of a 1998 World Cup player — has captivated search audiences looking beyond Messi for the next chapter of Argentine football.

Yes — Nico Paz is widely considered a future starter for Argentina. His technical profile (creative midfielder, strong dribbler, eye for goal) and age (21) position him as a long-term successor to the current generation. His 2025/26 Serie A season with Como (12 goals, 7 assists) demonstrated he is more than a prospect — he is producing at a high level. The 2026 World Cup is seen by Argentine coaches as his introduction to the highest stage; what comes next in 2027 and beyond will likely define his international trajectory.