Nico Paz
{{short description|Footballer (born 2004)}}
{{EngvarB|date=October 2024}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=September 2024}}
{{family name hatnote|Paz|Martínez|lang=Spanish}}
{{Infobox football biography
| name = Nico Paz
| image = Nico Paz Como 2025.jpg
| caption = Paz with Como in 2025
| full_name = Nicolás Paz Martínez{{WorldFootball.net|nicolas-paz_2}}
| birth_date = {{birth date and age|2004|9|8|df=y}}
| birth_place = {{nowrap|Santa Cruz de Tenerife, Spain}}
| position = Attacking midfielder
| currentclub = Como
| clubnumber = 79
| youthyears1 = 2011–2014
| youthclubs1 = CD San Juan
| youthyears2 = 2014–2016
| youthclubs2 = Tenerife
| youthyears3 = 2016–2022
| youthclubs3 = Real Madrid
| years1 = 2022–2024
| clubs1 = Real Madrid B
| caps1 = 49
| goals1 = 11
| years2 = 2023–2024
| clubs2 = Real Madrid
| caps2 = 8
| goals2 = 1
| years3 = 2024–
| clubs3 = Como
| caps3 = 35
| goals3 = 6
| nationalyears1 = 2022
| nationalteam1 = Argentina U20
| nationalcaps1 = 8
| nationalgoals1 = 4
| nationalyears2 = 2024–
| nationalteam2 = Argentina
| nationalcaps2 = 3
| nationalgoals2 = 0
| club-update = 09:10, 24 May 2025 (UTC)
| nationalteam-update = 03:38, 6 June 2025 (UTC)
}}
Nicolás Paz Martínez (born 8 September 2004) is a professional footballer who plays as an attacking midfielder for {{Italian football updater|Como}} club Como. Born in Spain, he plays for the Argentina national team.
Club career
=Real Madrid=
==Early career==
A youth product of CD San Juan and Tenerife, Paz joined the Real Madrid's La Fábrica in 2016.{{cite web|url=https://www.realmadrid.com/futbol/cantera/juvenil-c/nicolas-paz-martinez|title=Profile|accessdate=17 April 2022|publisher=Real Madrid CF|archive-date=23 April 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220423065211/http://www.realmadrid.com/futbol/cantera/juvenil-c/nicolas-paz-martinez|url-status=live}}
Initially starting his career as a central defender, Paz moved further up the pitch as he developed. After playing as a centre forward, he switched to the wing, where he played for the under-19 side. He is also comfortable operating as a central midfielder or playmaker.{{cite web|url=https://en.as.com/en/2022/03/07/soccer/1646654951_388869.html|title=Who is Nico Paz? From Real Madrid's youth academy to the Argentina senior side|first=Andy|last=Hall|date=7 March 2022|accessdate=17 April 2022|website=en.as.com|archive-date=4 November 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221104074109/https://en.as.com/en/2022/03/07/soccer/1646654951_388869.html|url-status=live}}{{cite web|url=https://www.elfutbolero.es/laliga/Quien-es-Nico-Paz-y-cuantos-millones-cuesta-la-gran-promesa-del-Real-Madrid-20220307-0005.html|title=¿Quién es Nico Paz y cuantos millones cuesta la gran promesa del Real Madrid?|trans-title=Who is Nico Paz and how many millions does the great promise of Real Madrid cost?|first=Tomás|last=Valle|date=7 March 2022|accessdate=17 April 2022|website=elfutbolero.es|language=Spanish|archive-date=4 November 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221104074105/https://www.elfutbolero.es/laliga/Quien-es-Nico-Paz-y-cuantos-millones-cuesta-la-gran-promesa-del-Real-Madrid-20220307-0005.html|url-status=live}}
He made his debut for Real Madrid's B-team in a 3–1 win over Andorra in January 2022, coming on as an 82nd-minute substitute for Iván Morante.
==2023–24: First-team debut==
On 8 November 2023, Paz made his first-team and Champions League debut for Real Madrid in a group stage match against Braga as a substitute in the 77th minute to replace Federico Valverde at Santiago Bernabéu Stadium.{{Cite web |date=8 November 2023 |title=Nico Paz makes his Real Madrid debut |url=https://www.realmadrid.com/en/news/2023/11/08/nico-paz-makes-his-real-madrid-debut |access-date=9 November 2023 |publisher=Real Madrid CF |archive-date=9 November 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231109041301/https://www.realmadrid.com/en/news/2023/11/08/nico-paz-makes-his-real-madrid-debut |url-status=live }}{{Cite web |date=8 November 2023 |title=Real Madrid-Braga: UEFA Champions League 2023/24 Group stage |url=https://www.uefa.com/uefachampionsleague/match/2039144--real-madrid-vs-braga/ |access-date=9 November 2023 |publisher=UEFA |archive-date=8 November 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231108195107/https://www.uefa.com/uefachampionsleague/match/2039144--real-madrid-vs-braga/ |url-status=live }} On 11 November 2023, Paz made his La Liga debut for Madrid in a 5–1 victory over Valencia, coming on as a substitute in the 82nd minute for Dani Carvajal.{{Cite web |date=2023-11-11 |title=Real Madrid vs Valencia CF |url=https://www.laliga.com/en-GB/match/temporada-2023-2024-laliga-easports-real-madrid-valencia-cf-13 |access-date=2023-11-12 |publisher=La Liga |language=en |archive-date=2023-07-19 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230719161036/https://www.laliga.com/en-GB/match/temporada-2023-2024-laliga-easports-real-madrid-valencia-cf-13 |url-status=live }}{{Cite web |date=2023-11-11 |title=Real Madrid 5–1 Valencia: Player ratings as Los Blancos run riot |url=https://www.90min.com/posts/real-madrid-5-1-valencia-player-ratings-11-11-2023 |access-date=2023-11-12 |website=90min |language=en-GB |archive-date=2023-11-12 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231112045605/https://www.90min.com/posts/real-madrid-5-1-valencia-player-ratings-11-11-2023 |url-status=live }} On 29 November, he scored his first goal in the Champions League, securing a 4–2 win against Napoli.{{cite web |url=https://www.football-espana.net/2023/11/29/nico-paz-overwhelmed-after-scoring-first-real-madrid-goal-in-napoli-victory-this-is-a-dream |title=Nico Paz overwhelmed after scoring first Real Madrid goal in Napoli victory – "This is a dream" |publisher=Football España |date=29 November 2023 |access-date=30 November 2023 |archive-date=29 November 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231129223536/https://www.football-espana.net/2023/11/29/nico-paz-overwhelmed-after-scoring-first-real-madrid-goal-in-napoli-victory-this-is-a-dream |url-status=live }}
=Como=
On 25 August 2024, Paz signed for newly promoted Serie A club Como on a four-year deal for a reported €6 million fee.{{cite web |date=25 August 2024 |title=Como 1907 annuncia l'astro nascente del Real Madrid e nazionale giovanile argentino Nico Paz |url=https://comofootball.com/como-1907-annuncia-lastro-nascente-del-real-madrid-e-nazionale-giovanile-argentino-nico-paz/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240829120147/https://comofootball.com/como-1907-annuncia-lastro-nascente-del-real-madrid-e-nazionale-giovanile-argentino-nico-paz/ |archive-date=29 August 2024 |access-date=25 August 2024 |publisher=Como 1907 |language=it}}{{Cite web |date=2024-08-25 |title=Official Announcement: Nico Paz |url=https://www.realmadrid.com/en-US/news/club/announcements/comunicado-oficial-nico-paz-25-08-2024 |access-date=2024-08-25 |publisher=Real Madrid CF}} The following day, he made his debut for the club, coming on as a substitute in a 1–1 draw against Cagliari.{{cite web |title=Serie A
International career
Born in Santa Cruz de Tenerife, Canary Islands, Paz was eligible to represent both Spain and Argentina at international level. He was first called up to the senior Argentina national team in March 2022.{{cite web|url=https://ar.marca.com/claro/futbol/seleccion-argentina/2022/03/07/62255204e2704e05658b459b.html|title=¿Quiénes son Nico Paz y Alejandro Garnacho, los talentos españoles que sorprendieron a Scaloni?|trans-title=Who are Nico Paz and Alejandro Garnacho, the Spanish talents that surprised Scaloni?|first=Jorge|last=Caballero|date=7 March 2022|accessdate=17 April 2022|work=Marca|language=Spanish|archive-date=26 March 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220326131650/https://ar.marca.com/claro/futbol/seleccion-argentina/2022/03/07/62255204e2704e05658b459b.html|url-status=live}}
Paz also was called up to the Argentina under-20 side for the 2022 Maurice Revello Tournament in France.{{cite web|url=https://www.afa.com.ar/es/posts/convocados-de-la-sub-20-para-el-torneo-maurice-revello|title=Convocados de la Sub 20 para el Torneo Maurice Revello|trans-title=Sub 20: all the information on the Maurice Revello Tournament|website=afa.com.ar|publisher=Argentine Football Association|date=20 May 2022|accessdate=30 May 2022|language=Spanish|archive-date=31 May 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220531184506/https://www.afa.com.ar/es/posts/convocados-de-la-sub-20-para-el-torneo-maurice-revello|url-status=live}} He was later named in Argentina's preliminary 48-man squad for the 2022 FIFA World Cup in Qatar.{{Cite web |last1=Hancock |first1=Greg Lea Contributions from Tom |last2=published |first2=Alasdair Mackenzie |date=2022-11-02 |title=Argentina World Cup 2022 squad: Lionel Scaloni announces 48-man longlist |url=https://www.fourfourtwo.com/features/argentina-world-cup-2022-squad-players-line-up-qatar |access-date=2022-11-04 |website=fourfourtwo.com |language=en |archive-date=2022-12-18 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221218133642/https://www.fourfourtwo.com/features/argentina-world-cup-2022-squad-players-line-up-qatar |url-status=live }}
On 15 October 2024, Paz made his senior debut for Argentina in a 6–0 win over Bolivia in a 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifying match, recording an assist for Lionel Messi.
Many sources close to the AFA, including Gustavo Peralta of San Clemente, have touted Paz as the future star of the team.{{Cite web |date=2024-10-15 |title=Argentina vs. Bolivia: resumen, goles y resultado del partido de las eliminatorias rumbo al Mundial 2026 |url=https://www.lanacion.com.ar/deportes/futbol/argentina-vs-bolivia-resumen-goles-y-resultado-del-partido-de-las-eliminatorias-rumbo-al-mundial-nid15102024/ |access-date=2024-10-31 |first=Manuel |last=Cortina |work=La Nación |language=es}}
Personal life
Paz is the son of former Argentine international Pablo Paz, who played at the 1998 FIFA World Cup in France.{{cite web|url=https://www.elespanol.com/elbernabeu/real-madrid/cantera/20220307/nico-paz-promesa-real-madrid-scaloni-argentina/655434518_0.html|title=¿Quiénes son Nico Paz y Alejandro Garnacho, los talentos españoles que sorprendieron a Scaloni?|trans-title=Nico Paz, the promise of Real Madrid that falls in love with Scaloni: called up by Argentina at only 17 years old|first=Borja|last=Sánchez|date=7 March 2022|accessdate=17 April 2022|website=elespanol.com|language=Spanish|archive-date=17 April 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220417141556/https://www.elespanol.com/elbernabeu/real-madrid/cantera/20220307/nico-paz-promesa-real-madrid-scaloni-argentina/655434518_0.html|url-status=live}} His mother is Spanish.{{Cite web|url=https://www.deportestvc.com/futbol-internacional/nico-paz-padres-este-es-el-origen-del-padre-madre-y-hermanas-del-futbolista-del-real-madrid-2023-12-01|title=Nico Paz padres, este es el origen del padre, madre y hermanas del futbolista del Real Madrid|date=December 2023 }}
Career statistics
=Club=
{{updated|match played 23 May 2025}}{{Soccerway|nicolas-paz-martinez/783894}}
| class=wikitable style=text-align:center
|+ Appearances and goals by club, season and competition !rowspan="2"|Club !rowspan="2"|Season !colspan="3"|League !colspan="2"|National cup{{efn|Includes Copa del Rey}} !colspan="2"|Europe !colspan="2"|Other !colspan="2"|Total | ||||||||||
| Division | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| rowspan="4"|Real Madrid Castilla
|6 | 0 | colspan="2"|— | colspan="2"|— | colspan="2"|— | 6 | 0 | ||||
| 2022–23
|14 | 1 | colspan="2"|— | colspan="2"|— | 4{{efn|Appearances in Primera Federación play-offs}} | 1 | 18 | 2 | |||
| 2023–24
|Primera Federación |29 | 10 | colspan="2"|— | colspan="2"|— | colspan="2"|— | 29 | 10 | ||||
| colspan="2"|Total
!49 | 11 | colspan="2"|— | colspan="2"|— | 4 | 1 | 53 | 12 | |||
| Real Madrid
|4 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 3{{efn|Appearances in UEFA Champions League|name=UCL}} | 1 | 0 | 0 | 8 | 2 | |
| Como
|35 | 6 | colspan="2"|— | colspan="2"|— | colspan="2"|— | 35 | 6 | ||||
| colspan="3"|Career total
!88 | 17 | 1 | 0 | 3 | 1 | 4 | 1 | 96 | 20 |
{{notelist}}
=International=
{{updated|match played 5 June 2025}}
| class="wikitable" style="text-align: center;"
|+ Appearances and goals by national team and year !National team!!Year!!Apps!!Goals | ||
| rowspan="2"|Argentina
|2024 | 1 | 0 |
| 2025 | 2 | 0 |
| colspan="2"|Total | 3 | 0 |
|---|
Honours
Real Madrid
- La Liga: 2023–24{{cite news |date=4 May 2024 |title=Real Madrid crowned champions after Barca's defeat at Girona |url=https://www.bbc.com/sport/football/articles/c0x05j54l8wo |access-date=4 May 2024 |publisher=BBC Sport}}
- Supercopa de España: 2024{{Cite web |date=2024-01-14 |title=El Real Madrid recupera su corona en la Supercopa (4–1) |url=https://rfef.es/es/noticias/cronica-el-real-madrid-recupera-su-corona-en-la-supercopa-4-1 |access-date=2024-01-15 |publisher=Royal Spanish Football Federation |language=es}}
- UEFA Champions League: 2023–24{{Cite web |last= |date=2024-06-01 |title=Real Madrid win Champions League: Carvajal and Vinícius Júnior see off Dortmund |url=https://www.uefa.com/uefachampionsleague/news/028e-1b07e18d875a-ba78e4b9d9fc-1000--real-madrid-win-champions-league-carvajal-and-vinicius-jun/ |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240601223417/https://www.uefa.com/uefachampionsleague/news/028e-1b07e18d875a-ba78e4b9d9fc-1000--report-madrid-win-champions-league/ |archive-date=2024-06-01 |access-date=2024-06-02 |publisher=UEFA |language=en}}
Individual
- Serie A Best Under-23: 2024–25{{Cite web |last=Young |first=Peter |date=23 May 2025 |title=Official: All 2024-25 Serie A MVP award winners revealed |url=https://football-italia.net/official-2024-25-serie-a-mvp-awards-revealed |access-date=23 May 2025 |website=Football Italia}}
- Serie A Team of the Season: 2024–25{{cite news |date=24 May 2025 |title=EA Sports FC 25 – Serie A Team of the Season |url=https://www.ea.com/games/ea-sports-fc/fc-25/tots/serie-a|access-date=24 May 2025 |publisher=Serie A}}
References
{{reflist}}
{{Como 1907 squad}}
{{Serie A Awards}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Paz, Nico}}
Category:Spanish people of Argentine descent
Category:Sportspeople of Argentine descent
Category:Footballers from Santa Cruz de Tenerife
Category:Argentine men's footballers
Category:Argentine sportspeople of Spanish descent
Category:Argentina men's youth international footballers
Category:Argentina men's international footballers
Category:Spanish men's footballers
Category:Men's association football midfielders
Category:Men's association football forwards
Category:Real Madrid Castilla footballers
Category:Real Madrid CF players
Category:Primera Federación players
Category:Spanish expatriate men's footballers
Category:Spanish expatriate sportspeople in Italy
Category:Argentine expatriate men's footballers
Category:Argentine expatriate sportspeople in Italy
Category:Expatriate men's footballers in Italy