Nico Paz has strengthened his case to become Argentina’s next No. 10 after a series of impressive performances for Como, with the young midfielder emerging as a potential successor to Lionel Messi following the legendary forward’s international career.
The 21-year-old has established himself as one of the most exciting young talents in Italian football, attracting attention with his creativity, goalscoring ability and growing influence in midfield.
Paz has also impressed Argentina head coach Lionel Scaloni, who has continued to include him in the national team squad. The midfielder has responded with five goals in 17 appearances for the Albiceleste, although he played only 71 minutes at the World Cup.
His latest international goal carried particular significance, as he became the last Argentine player to receive an assist from Messi in the match against Benin.
With Messi’s era approaching its conclusion, Argentina face the challenge of identifying the next player to wear the iconic No. 10 shirt, a number associated with some of the greatest footballers in the country’s history.
Argentina face challenge of replacing Messi
Argentina’s No. 10 shirt carries enormous expectations after being worn by football legends such as Mario Kempes, Diego Maradona and Messi, all of whom helped the country win the World Cup.
However, the responsibility has not always been straightforward for those who followed them.
Marcelo Gallardo was among the first players to inherit the shirt after Maradona. He wore it at the 1995 Copa America when he was just 19 but struggled to make the expected impact, featuring in only two matches and missing a penalty.
Gallardo later recalled how Maradona personally contacted him after the disappointing experience to offer encouragement.
“Diego called me straight after the match to encourage me. He told me to keep my head held high because he had great faith in me. He had absolutely no reason to do it, but he did. I will always be immensely grateful to him for that gesture,” Gallardo said.
At the next tournament, Gallardo opted for the No. 9 shirt and became Argentina’s top scorer.
The national team subsequently handed the No. 10 shirt to goalkeeper Nacho Gonzalez because Argentina sometimes assigned squad numbers alphabetically. Other players who wore the famous number included Ariel Ortega, Andres D’Alessandro and Juan Roman Riquelme before Messi eventually made it his own.
Although some supporters would prefer the shirt to be retired in honour of Messi and Maradona, FIFA regulations require teams to use designated squad numbers at official tournaments, preventing Argentina from permanently withdrawing the number.
Paz impresses at Como after Real Madrid exit
Paz’s playing style differs from that of Messi and Maradona, despite his preference for his left foot and tendency to operate on the right side of the pitch.
The midfielder often receives the ball with his back to goal and must overcome defenders before creating opportunities, whereas Messi and Maradona frequently began their attacking movements facing the opposition goal.
Nevertheless, Paz has demonstrated impressive productivity under Como head coach Cesc Fabregas.
During his first Serie A season, he recorded six goals and eight assists in 35 appearances. He improved those numbers the following campaign, scoring 13 goals and providing seven assists in 40 matches.
His performances helped Como establish themselves among Italy’s most exciting teams after promotion to the top flight, with the club also securing Champions League qualification.
Paz developed his footballing ability at Real Madrid after impressing in the youth system at Tenerife, where he was born while his father, former Argentina international Pablo Paz, was playing in Spain.
He made his senior debut for Real Madrid during the 2023-24 season but struggled to secure regular first-team opportunities before moving to Como.
Real Madrid retained a preferential buy-back option, leaving open the possibility of bringing him back to the Spanish capital.
However, Paz explained in June that remaining in Italy would be the best decision for his development.
“After many weeks of thought, I have come to the conclusion that, at this moment, staying at Como for another year is the best thing for my career. It is a club that gave me the opportunity to grow and become the player I am today,” he wrote on social media.
Messi connection strengthens Paz’s profile
Paz’s connection with Messi has also attracted attention beyond the pitch. A photograph of Messi’s son, Ciro, wearing a Como shirt circulated on social media, prompting the midfielder to speak about the significance of the gesture.
“It is an honour for us that the greatest player in football history knows our shirt. We must be doing something right. Seeing Messi’s son in our shirt is a joy and an honour,” Paz said.
While Paz has not yet established himself as Argentina’s definitive successor to Messi, his performances for Como and growing involvement with the national team have strengthened his credentials.
The challenge will be maintaining that progress while adapting to the expectations that accompany Argentina’s most recognisable shirt.
Whether Scaloni eventually entrusts Paz with the No. 10 jersey remains uncertain, but the young midfielder has already given Argentina reasons to consider him among the leading candidates for the role.
