Como's Nico Paz tipped to fill Messi's shoes for Argentina
Quick summary
Nico Paz, the Como playmaker on loan from Real Madrid, is being discussed as a long-term creative heir for Argentina following Lionel Messi's international retirement.
Full article
Attributed to original sourceFollowing Lionel Messi’s retirement from international football, reports in Argentina claim that Como star Nico Paz is the leading candidate to take on the prestigious honour of wearing the now vacant no.10 shirt for the Albiceleste.
Report: Nico Paz in line to take Messi’s Argentina no.10 shirt Eight-time Ballon d’Or winner Messi, widely considered the greatest footballer of all time, announced on August 31 that he will be retiring from international duty following Argentina’s loss to Spain in the 2026 World Cup final.
ATLANTA, GEORGIA – JULY 07: Lionel Messi #10 of Argentina celebrates with teammates after the 3-2 victory during the FIFA World Cup 2026 Round of 16 match between Argentina and Egypt at Atlanta Stadium on July 07, 2026 in Atlanta, Georgia. (Photo by Justin Setterfield/Getty Images) Messi had briefly retired from international football in 2016, but returned in time for the 2018 World Cup and then brought the trophy home for Argentina from the 2022 tournament in Qatar. This time, however, at the age of 39, his international retirement seems to be definitive.
With Messi now gone from the Argentina set-up, there is a question to be asked as to who will be given the honour of taking on the iconic Argentina no.10 shirt, which has also previously been worn by the legendary Diego Maradona.
According to the latest reports from ESPN Argentina , Como star Nico Paz is currently the most likely player to take on the prestigious Argentina no.10 shirt.
FORT LAUDERDALE, FLORIDA – OCTOBER 14: Lautaro Martínez of Argentina celebrates after scoring his team’s sixth goal with teammates Lionel Messi and Nico Paz during the International Friendly match between Puerto Rico and Argentina at Chase Stadium on October 14, 2025 in Fort Lauderdale, Florida. (Photo by Carmen Mandato/Getty Images) The 21-year-old, who has often worn the no.18 in his 11 caps for the Argentina national team, is one of the hottest prospects in Serie A, leading Como to pay €60m to Real Madrid earlier this summer to cancel the Spanish club’s 50% sell-on clause. Real Madrid still have an option to buy Paz back for an €80m fee in the summer of 2027.
Paz provided six goals and nine assists during his first season in Serie A in 2024-25 and went even better in 2025-26 with 12 goals and seven assists to his name from 35 league appearances, averaging a goal involvement every 151 minutes.
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What happened
With Lionel Messi having retired from international duty, Argentina are searching for a new creative fulcrum. Como's Nico Paz, currently on loan from Real Madrid, has emerged as one of the most talked-about candidates thanks to his left foot, vision, and comfort in the No. 10 role. The 20-year-old has impressed in Serie A and is already capped at senior level, giving him a head start over other options. His development at Como under Cesc Fàbregas is seen as a key stage in determining whether he can shoulder the weight of replacing the greatest player in Argentine history.
Chance analysis
Argentina's post-Messi era is no longer hypothetical, and the conversation is already shifting toward who carries the playmaking burden next. Nico Paz's blend of technical elegance and production in Serie A makes him a natural candidate, even if the comparison to Messi is more thematic than literal. His loan at Como, under a coach who understands creative midfielders, is a meaningful test of readiness for both club and country.
Reinforces Nico Paz's growing status in Argentina's long-term plans but does not change his club-level availability or Como's near-term outlook.