Argentina's $40 million rising star calls brief moment with Lionel Messi the best of his life

The Argentina national team is in a golden era, entering the 2026 FIFA World Cup as one of the clear favorites. While questions remain about whether Lionel Messi will take part in the tournament, one of the squad’s young talents—now valued at $40 million—highlighted a special memory he shared with the legendary forward.

Nicolas Paz, just 20 years old, came through the ranks at Real Madrid and now plays for Como 1907 in Italy’s Serie A. Just a few months ago, he made his official debut with Argentina in a 6–0 win over Bolivia during South American qualifiers for the World Cup, on October 15, 2024.

“My debut with Argentina was the best moment of my life,” Paz admitted during a recent interview with Como TV, referring to that match, in which he entered in the second half to replace Lautaro Martinez and played the final 20 minutes.

In that brief time on the field, Nico showed flashes of his immense potential—and even linked up with Messi for Argentina’s sixth goal. “To assist Lionel Messi, the best player in history, when I thought I would never play with him because of the age difference… I’m very happy and grateful for it,” the young playmaker said.

Lionel Messi and Nicolas Paz playing together for Argentina

Messi praised Nico Paz

After that match, Messi gave an interview in which the reporter pointed out that when he made his professional debut in 2004, Nicolas Paz hadn’t even been born. “I know, it’s crazy,” Lionel responded, before going on to praise his new teammate. “Beyond the age, he has an incredible mind, and that’s why he’s where he is.”

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Highlighting Paz’s qualities, Messi added: “He has so much talent, he understands the game perfectly. He has a huge future, he has a lot of quality… Today he made his debut, got minutes, played, enjoyed it. And in this team, he’s going to feel comfortable. I hope I can help him continue growing.”

Paz is one of Europe’s most exciting young soccer prospects

A product of Real Madrid’s youth system, Nicolas Paz made his senior debut with the Spanish giants in November 2023, at just 19 years old. He featured in eight matches, scored one goal, and collected three trophies—including the 2023–24 UEFA Champions League title. However, with fierce competition in his position, he moved to Como 1907 at the start of this season.

Since then, the Argentine midfielder has become a vital part of the Italian side, recording 30 appearances, 6 goals, and 7 assists. His breakout season has sparked interest from several major European clubs. Less than a year ago, Como paid €6 million ($6.8 million) for his transfer. Today, according to Transfermarkt, Paz’s market value has skyrocketed to nearly $40 million.