From the Canary Islands to Messi’s Teammate

Young Argentine Nico Paz, now a rising star at Como in Serie A, is living a dream moment. Born in Tenerife and developed in Real Madrid’s academy, he moved to Italy in 2024 and quickly established himself as one of the league’s brightest prospects. His performances opened the door to the Argentina national team, where he marked his debut with an assist to none other than Lionel Messi.

At just 21, Paz already has four call-ups with the Albiceleste and dreams of making the squad for the 2026 World Cup, where Argentina will aim to defend their crown with Messi still leading the way.

Nico Paz’s Ritual: YouTube and Messi

In a recent interview, Paz revealed his biggest source of inspiration: watching Messi videos on YouTube before every match. “Playing alongside Messi, you can learn so much. I always watch his videos and want to learn as much as I can from him. Before every game, I watch them to see if I can replicate something,” said the Como playmaker.

His admiration for the Argentine captain goes beyond the locker room: he spends hours analyzing the eight-time Ballon d’Or winner’s plays, hoping to bring some of that magic into his own game.

Argentina’s Next Big Thing

Even though replicating Messi’s brilliance seems impossible, Paz is not settling. With two goals in his first four matches of the 2025-26 season, he continues to take firm steps toward the elite. His ambition is clear: learn from the best to become one of them.

Nico Paz is already shining in Italy and with Argentina. And if he stays on this path, it won’t be long before he makes hi