By Kaveh Ferro Villani, Year 12
Nicolás Paz Martínez, better known as Nico Paz, is a professional football player playing as an attacking midfielder. Born on September 8th, 2004, he currently plays for Serie A club Como 1907. Despite having Spanish nationality, he has opted to represent Argentina at the senior level.
Growing up in Tenerife, Spain, Nico Paz first played for youth clubs CD San Juan and Tenerife before being scouted in 2016 to play for La Fàbrica, world-renowned Real Madrid’s academy. At the age of 12, Nico had already made a name for himself with his ball control, vision, and technical finesse. In Madrid, he quickly rose through the youth teams, making his debut for the first team in 2023 against Braga, in the most prestigious club football competition in the world, the Champions League. Following this, in 2024, he won the Champions League, the La Liga championship, and the Spanish Super Cup with Real Madrid.
In August 2024, due to only a few appearances, the emerging talent joined Italian side Como 1907, seeking more minutes in first-team football. Como saw great potential in Nico and handed him the number 10 shirt, a sign of confidence in his abilities.
The Argentine national had an amazing 2024-25 season. He played a considerable 35 league games, with over 2600 minutes, a significant increase compared to previous seasons. Scoring 6 goals and delivering 9 assists, Nico quickly established himself as a major player in his team. His performances were key to Como’s success, helping them secure a mid-table rank in their first season back in the Italian first division. He was an important player who connected the defense to the attack, which drew attention from European Clubs, like Tottenham Hotspur. Over the season, he not only developed maturity in his game, but also demonstrated leadership and composure in crucial moments.
The culmination of Nico Paz’s exceptional season was receiving the Serie A Under-23 award, which recognizes the best under-23 player over the season. His achievement was also recognized when he was selected for the Serie A team of the season.
His start to the current 2025-26 season has been nothing short of astonishing. He has built off the momentum from the previous season, and continues to shine in every single match. In just two months of Serie A, he has already scored 4 goals and had 4 assists, despite only playing 7 games. Nico has been directly involved (goal or assist) in 8/9 of Como’s goals, and has earned four Man of the Match awards.
This past weekend, in a match against Juventus, Nico Paz outperformed and led his team to a 2-0 victory over Italian giants. He secured his team’s victory by scoring one goal and providing one assist. Playing under the eyes of legends such as Arsène Wenger and Thierry Henry, Nico earned himself the MOTM award.
The club, fans, and scouts are most impressed by his consistency. He plays effortlessly while giving the impression that he has years of experience. Besides statistics, he is praised for his ability to control the tempo of the game, garnering comparisons to midfield maestros like Pedri or Toni Kroos.
Even though it is too early to compare him to Messi, Nico Paz has proven himself to be one of the most promising talents in Europe. He has honed his skills and is now a key player in Como 1907’s squad. Argentina has a jewel in its hands, who could be their next saviour in the 2026 World Cup, helping Argentina retain the trophy at home.
