Argentina arrived in the United States last weekend to begin the final stage of their preparations for the 2026 FIFA World Cup. Among the 26 players on the roster is <a href="https://worldsoccertalk.com/tag/nicolas-paz/">Nicolas Paz</a>, who is poised to become a unique case in the history of the national team.



“Nico Paz will become the first player in Argentina national team history to play in a World Cup without ever having played for a club in the country, including at the youth level,” Marca reported on Tuesday, citing a statistic provided by the X account Siempre Seleccion.



Nicolas was born in Santa Cruz de Tenerife, Spain, in 2004, but chose to represent Argentina because of his family roots. His father, Pablo Paz, was also a soccer player and was part of <a href="https://worldsoccertalk.com/tag/argentina/">Argentina</a>‘s squad at the 1998 FIFA World Cup in France, where he appeared in a match against Croatia.



However, the young midfielder has never spent any stage of his career in the South American country. He began playing youth soccer with Atletico San Juan and later moved to C.D. Tenerife, both in his hometown, before attracting the attention of Real Madrid.



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img loading="lazy" width="1920" height="1080" src="https://media.worldsoccertalk.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/6/2026/06/03164318/paz-1-1-1920x1080.webp" alt="" class="wp-image-649420"><figcaption>Nicolas Paz made his professional debut with Real Madrid.</figcaption></figure>



With Los Blancos, he progressed through the club’s youth system before making his professional debut in November 2023. After appearing in eight matches and scoring one goal for Real Madrid, Paz was loaned to — and later permanently signed by — Italy’s Como 1907, where he has spent the last two seasons.


 <div class="wp_fsn_relatedlinks" id="WST#/world-cup/nico-paz-reportedly-undergoes-special-knee-treatment-13-days-before-argentinas-2026-world-cup-opener/"></div>


<h2>Nicolas Paz’s history with Argentina</h2>



Nico Paz will arrive at the <a href="https://worldsoccertalk.com/world-cup/">2026 FIFA World Cup</a> as one of the least experienced international players on the team’s roster. He has made just eight appearances for Argentina since debuting against Bolivia in a World Cup qualifier in October 2024. Since then, the 21-year-old midfielder has played four official matches and four friendlies.



<h2>Other similar cases to Nicolas Paz</h2>



While no Argentina player has ever appeared in a World Cup without previously playing for a club in the country, there have been several examples of players reaching that level without ever playing professionally in Argentina.



The most obvious example is Lionel Messi. He played youth soccer for several clubs in Rosario, most notably Newell’s Old Boys, before moving to Barcelona as a teenager, where he made his professional debut in 2004. To date, he has never played professionally for an Argentine club.



A similar case is Emiliano Martinez, who left Independiente at age 17 to join Arsenal and has since spent his entire professional career in Europe. There is also another current example on Argentina’s World Cup roster: Giuliano Simeone, who left River Plate to follow his father to Atletico Madrid.

Nico Paz set for unprecedented Argentina milestone at the 2026 FIFA World Cup

Nico Paz set for unprecedented Argentina milestone at the 2026 FIFA World Cup - World Soccer Talk

main

With less than two weeks remaining until <a href="https://worldsoccertalk.com/tag/argentina/">Argentina</a>’s 2026 World Cup opener against Algeria, manager Lionel Scaloni is closely monitoring the fitness of several squad members who reported to camp carrying injuries. 



Following the successful <a href="https://worldsoccertalk.com/world-cup/good-news-for-argentina-as-julian-alvarez-and-cristian-romero-recover-from-injuries-for-2026-world-cup/">recoveries of Cristian Romero and Julian Alvarez</a>, midfielder Nico Paz has become the primary focus of the team’s medical staff. The Como 1907 midfielder was forced to miss his club’s final match of the season due to a knee issue, immediately raising alarms within the Albiceleste camp. 



According to a report from Bolavip Argentina, the young playmaker is currently undergoing a specialized medical treatment to accelerate his recovery, with internal indicators suggesting he should be available for the tournament opener.



While receiving this targeted treatment, Paz will not participate in full-intensity training sessions with the rest of the squad. The coaching staff will evaluate his day-to-day progress to ensure his knee is responding as expected before clearing him for his first career <a href="https://worldsoccertalk.com/world-cup/">World Cup</a>.



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img loading="lazy" width="833" height="1280" src="https://media.worldsoccertalk.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/6/2026/06/03143008/nico-paz-833x1280.webp" alt="" class="wp-image-649337"><figcaption>Nico Paz’s post on his Instagram account. (nicopaz1o)</figcaption></figure>



<h2>Paz ruled out for Argentina’s friendlies</h2>



Due to the ongoing rehabilitation schedule, <a href="https://worldsoccertalk.com/tag/nicolas-paz/">Paz</a> has been ruled out of Argentina’s upcoming pre-tournament friendlies against Honduras on June 6 and Islandia on June 9. If his knee continues to respond positively to the treatment initiated at the team’s base camp in Kansas City, his return to the pitch is expected to be saved for the opening match against Algeria.


 <div class="wp_fsn_relatedlinks" id="WST#/world-cup/lionel-messi-headlines-list-of-six-argentina-players-with-physical-issues-ahead-of-2026-world-cup/"></div>


The medical staff is simultaneously managing concerns over full-back Gonzalo Montiel and midfielder Leandro Paredes. Both players are dealing with muscle tears and will be evaluated continuously over the coming days to determine if they can remain with the squad or if they must be replaced entirely.



<h2>Scaloni weighs final roster adjustments</h2>



Scaloni has until June 15 to finalize his decision regarding the injured players. FIFA tournament regulations state that participating nations are permitted to make emergency changes to their official rosters up to 24 hours prior to their opening match, provided the injury is officially verified by FIFA’s medical committee.



Should Paz fail to recover in time, a contingency plan is already in place. Argentine network DSports reported via X that Aston Villa midfielder Emiliano Buendia could potentially be called up as a late replacement. According to the report, Argentina’s coaching staff has officially requested that Buendia delay his vacation plans in the event that he is needed in North America.

Nico Paz reportedly undergoes special knee treatment, 13 days before Argentina’s 2026 World Cup opener

Nico Paz reportedly undergoes special knee treatment, 13 days before Argentina’s 2026 World Cup opener - World Soccer Talk

<a href="https://worldsoccertalk.com/tag/como/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Como</a>’s impressive run under <a href="https://worldsoccertalk.com/tag/cesc-fabregas/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Cesc Fabregas</a> continued over the weekend in a season that ended with a Champions League spot. <a href="https://worldsoccertalk.com/tag/nicolas-paz/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Nicolás Paz</a> was a major part of that success, and he could return to <a href="https://worldsoccertalk.com/tag/real-madrid/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Real Madrid</a> because of a buyback clause. However, the coach wants the club to make an effort to keep him.



Fabregas said in a press conference after the celebrations: “We have started talking recently, not much, but a little bit (…) Let his people work, let our people work, and let’s talk with Real Madrid.”



Paz was not part of the team that beat Cremonese on Sunday because he was dealing with a knee injury. With an Argentina World Cup call-up looking likely, he did not want to take any risks. Even though Como won the match, their future looks brighter with him.



<h2>Fabregas on Paz’s intention</h2>



A player choosing to stay on the bench instead of playing in an important match in order to avoid risks does not seem like a good sign for any club, but that concern was probably left behind after Como finished the season the way it wanted to.



<figure class="wp-block-embed is-type-rich is-provider-twitter wp-block-embed-twitter"><div class="wp-block-embed__wrapper">
<div class="ck-twitter"><blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="500" data-dnt="true">🗣️🇮🇹 Los aficionados del Como cantan "Nico, quédate" 🧐 Y el jugador argentino les contesta: "Forza Como, esto solo es el principio" 📹 <a href="https://twitter.com/SkySport?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@SkySport</a> 📻 <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/PartidazoCOPE?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#PartidazoCOPE</a> <a href="https://t.co/zzABKwdlL0">pic.twitter.com/zzABKwdlL0</a>— El Partidazo de COPE (@partidazocope) <a href="https://twitter.com/partidazocope/status/2059015338889499095?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">May 25, 2026</a></blockquote></div><script async="" src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
</div></figure>



Playing in Europe’s top competition was a major reason to hope they could keep the talented midfielder for one more year, which appears to be his intention, according to what the coach described.


 <div class="wp_fsn_relatedlinks" id="WST#/news/jose-mourinho-reportedly-outlines-six-transfer-demands-for-real-madrid-return-amid-presidential-elections/"></div>


Fabregas said: “You can see how much he cares, and the way he was on the bench the other day, even without playing, he felt it more than anyone. That speaks for itself, doesn’t it? So… we will see what happens.”



<h2>Paz’s buyback clause</h2>



Fabregas was referring to Real Madrid because they still control Paz’s future, even over Como. The reason is simple: the Spanish giants included a buyback clause when they sold him to Como. This summer, the price to bring him back would be just 9 million euros, which looks like a bargain. The player’s market value is around 60 million euros.

‘Let’s talk with Real Madrid’: Cesc Fabregas wants Como to negotiate Nicolás Paz’s stay

‘Let’s talk with Real Madrid’: Cesc Fabregas wants Como to negotiate Nicolás Paz’s stay - World Soccer Talk

Nico Paz finds himself in a complicated predicament. Having recently suffered a knee injury that threatened to derail his 2026 World Cup dreams with <a href="https://worldsoccertalk.com/tag/argentina/">Argentina</a>, the midfielder has sparked a massive dilemma with Como 1907, who desperately need their star player for the high-stakes season finale.



According to Argentine national team insider Leo Paradizo, <a href="https://worldsoccertalk.com/tag/nicolas-paz/">Paz</a> has approached manager Cesc Fabregas with a formal request to be left out of the squad for the final match of the season against Cremonese.



The dilemma stems from the immense importance of the upcoming clash against Cremonese for Como 1907’s Champions League aspirations. The Italian side needs a victory, alongside dropped points from both Roma and AC Milan in their respective matches, to secure a historic qualification for Europe’s elite competition.



The Argentine midfielder had already been sidelined during his team’s previous Serie A fixture due to the knee issue, a match in which Como defeated Parma 1-0. However, with Paz now recovered and officially named to Fabregas’ matchday squad for the Cremonese duel, the club is eager to have him on the pitch for the final matchday.



<figure class="wp-block-embed is-type-rich is-provider-twitter wp-block-embed-twitter"><div class="wp-block-embed__wrapper">
<div class="ck-twitter"><blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="500" data-dnt="true">Our team for tomorrow’s match against Cremonese 🔵 <a href="https://t.co/lZGH20zkBJ">pic.twitter.com/lZGH20zkBJ</a>— Como1907 (@Como_1907) <a href="https://twitter.com/Como_1907/status/2058238355733655972?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">May 23, 2026</a></blockquote></div><script async="" src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
</div></figure>



<h2>Disagreements between medical staffs</h2>



Amid this standoff, Como 1907’s medical team maintains that the player is in optimal physical condition to face Cremonese and that the issue should not hinder his performance. Furthermore, with a potential Champions League berth on the line, the Italian club is determined to feature their standout star, who was recently named Serie A’s Midfielder of the Season.


 <div class="wp_fsn_relatedlinks" id="WST#/news/cesc-fabregas-confirms-nicolas-paz-will-play-for-either-como-or-real-madrid-he-wont-play-for-inter/"></div>


In stark contrast, the Argentine Football Association (AFA) has taken a hardline stance, firmly believing it is best for Paz to sit out. According to the national team’s medical staff, even the slightest impact or recurrence could rule him out of the <a href="https://worldsoccertalk.com/world-cup/">World Cup</a> entirely.



<h2>Nico Paz’s blockbuster season</h2>



The 21-year-old Argentine midfielder’s market value has skyrocketed to approximately $75 million according to Transfermarkt, a testament to his stellar current form. 



Over the course of the campaign, Paz made 40 appearances, registering 13 goals and providing 8 assists. He remains under contract with Como 1907 until June 2028.

Nico Paz risks friction with Como after sidelining himself ahead of Argentina’s 2026 World Cup run

Nico Paz risks friction with Como after sidelining himself ahead of Argentina’s 2026 World Cup run - World Soccer Talk

A fantastic Serie A season could end with <a href="https://worldsoccertalk.com/tag/como/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Como</a> qualifying for the Champions League if results go their way, as they sit fifth, two points behind <a href="https://worldsoccertalk.com/tag/milan/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Milan</a> and <a href="https://worldsoccertalk.com/tag/roma/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Roma</a>. However, there were some rumors linking <a href="https://worldsoccertalk.com/tag/nicolas-paz/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Nicolás Paz</a> with <a href="https://worldsoccertalk.com/tag/inter/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Inter</a>, which <a href="https://worldsoccertalk.com/tag/cesc-fabregas/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Cesc Fàbregas</a> categorically denied while also mentioning <a href="https://worldsoccertalk.com/tag/real-madrid/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Real Madrid</a> as the other possible destination.



Fàbregas said: “Nico is 50% a Como player, but he’s our player. The only club that can say anything is Real Madrid. If I can say one thing, I know it for certain: Nico Paz will not play for Inter. He will either return to Real Madrid or play for Como next year.”



The manager has been one of the biggest surprises of the season with the rise of a team that was expected to battle relegation but instead is competing near the top of the table while also coming one step away from winning a trophy after losing to Inter in the Coppa Italia final.



<h2>Fàbregas’ firm criticism of Javier Zanetti</h2>



The controversy involving Javier Zanetti became notable after the Inter vice president commented: “I like Nico Paz a lot, both for the way he plays and as a person. His father was my roommate at the 1998 World Cup. I’m happy about the moment he’s having right now. Great players are always going to be wanted by big clubs.”



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img loading="lazy" width="1920" height="1080" src="https://media.worldsoccertalk.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/6/2026/05/22190112/zanetti-1920x1080.webp" alt="" class="wp-image-646091"><figcaption>Zanetti was teammates with Paz’s father in Argentina (Marco Luzzani/Getty Images)</figcaption></figure>



While the comments were not controversial on their own considering his relationship with the player’s father from their time as teammates, the manager responded firmly when asked about the remarks because Paz remains under contract with the club.


 <div class="wp_fsn_relatedlinks" id="WST#/world-cup/nicolas-pazs-injury-creates-disagreement-between-como-and-argentina-with-the-world-cup-in-sight/"></div>


Fàbregas said: “Has Javier Zanetti talked about Nico Paz? I’m sorry. Zanetti has been a very important figure in the soccer world, he understands very well how things work. The only club that can say something is Real Madrid. I know Zanetti does not work for either Real Madrid or Como, so there has to be respect. There are also little messages that I don’t like. If you allow me to say one thing, I’m very clear about this: Nico Paz will not play for Inter. He will either return to Real Madrid or play for Como next season.”



<h2>Paz’s buyback clause</h2>



Paz’s market value could reportedly be around €60 million for the talented 21-year-old left-footed player. However, Real Madrid included a very low €9 million buyback clause when they sold him to Como, making it obvious the Spanish giants are likely to activate it, even if only as a business decision.

Cesc Fàbregas confirms Nicolás Paz will play for either Como or Real Madrid: ‘He won’t play for Inter’

Cesc Fàbregas confirms Nicolás Paz will play for either Como or Real Madrid: ‘He won’t play for Inter’ - World Soccer Talk

<a href="https://worldsoccertalk.com/tag/lamine-yamal/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Lamine Yamal</a> has turned into one of the best players in the world almost overnight, with little time even to call him a prospect. His current run with <a href="https://worldsoccertalk.com/tag/barcelona/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Barcelona</a> has him holding a U-23 record for goal contributions this season despite being just 18 years old, with a Serie A star close to his numbers.



Yamal has been the main attacking threat at Barcelona for some time. His combined goals and assists back this up, according to Marca. The right winger leads the five top European leagues (Premier League, La Liga, Serie A, Bundesliga and Ligue 1) among players under 23 with 18 goal contributions. He has scored 10 goals and provided eight assists.



The other youngster was born in 2004, giving an age advantage to the rest. This player competes in Serie A for Como 1907, Nicolás Paz. For the Argentine, Italy has been the right place to develop, as he has accumulated 15 goal contributions. That total comes from 9 goals and 6 assists.



<h2>Yamal and Paz could be headlining important matches</h2>



Nobody can predict what the future holds for players on these trajectories. However, it is already hard to imagine Yamal wearing a different jersey in the future. That means we could see this matchup in a future El Clásico.



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img loading="lazy" width="1920" height="1080" src="https://media.worldsoccertalk.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/6/2026/02/21160732/paz-1920x1080.webp" alt="" class="wp-image-623131"><figcaption>Paz has been great for Como in his time in Italy (Marco Luzzani/Getty Images)</figcaption></figure>



Paz began his youth career at <a href="https://worldsoccertalk.com/tag/real-madrid/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Real Madrid</a>. The son of former Argentina World Cup player Pablo Paz developed through the ranks but could not break into the first team. His move to Como included a buyout clause for his club of origin that seems likely to be activated.


 <div class="wp_fsn_relatedlinks" id="WST#/news/messi-could-have-been-renewed-barcelona-presidential-candidate-xavier-vilajoana-on-laporta-la-masia-lamine-yamal-and-what-comes-next/"></div>


There are even more impactful fixtures they could play against each other sooner than that. While Yamal may be Spain’s best player with the World Cup looming, Paz keeps making his case for Lionel Scaloni’s squad for the tournament. The Finalissima between the two countries on March 27 could see these left-sided players face off for the first time.



<h2>Stars that don’t equal Yamal and Paz</h2>



These players are exceptions to the rule, as no other U-23 player has reached 15 goal contributions. With Paz at 21 and Yamal turning 19 in July, they remain alone in the category and are notably younger than many rivals.



Names that should rank higher on the list include <a href="https://worldsoccertalk.com/tag/jude-bellingham/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Jude Bellingham</a>, who had a magnificent first season at Real Madrid but could not replicate that production because of injuries. A more offensively minded player who has not reached the mark is Florian Wirtz, for whom Liverpool paid over $100 million. Jamal Musiala, Cole Palmer and Nico Williams are other notable competitors.

Lamine Yamal holds U-23 goal contribution record with Barcelona, Serie A star close behind

Lamine Yamal holds U-23 goal contribution record with Barcelona, Serie A star close behind - World Soccer Talk

Latest news from nicolas paz. Find out about all the news related to nicolas paz on worldsoccertalk.com

ALL POSTS TAGGED "nicolas paz"

World Cup

Nico Paz set for unprecedented Argentina milestone at the 2026 FIFA World Cup

World Cup

Nico Paz reportedly undergoes special knee treatment, 13 days before Argentina’s 2026 World Cup opener

News

‘Let’s talk with Real Madrid’: Cesc Fabregas wants Como to negotiate Nicolás Paz’s stay

World Cup

Nico Paz risks friction with Como after sidelining himself ahead of Argentina’s 2026 World Cup run

News

Cesc Fàbregas confirms Nicolás Paz will play for either Como or Real Madrid: ‘He won’t play for Inter’

News

Lamine Yamal holds U-23 goal contribution record with Barcelona, Serie A star close behind