The next James Rodríguez? Why Como’s Nico Paz could light up the World Cup for Argentina

The soccer world has changed radically since Rodriguez burst onto the scene. There are very few unknown quantities who are signed based on major tournament performances alone. Some of those to have earned moves in recent years - Sofyan Ambrabat, Aleksandr Golovin, Randal Kolo Muani, Cody Gakpo - haven't worked out in full. In effect, it is very hard to be James Rodriguez in 2026. 

Yet there are still Moises Caicedo, Alexis Mac Allister, Enzo Fernandez, and Aurelien Tchouameni - all of whom have established themselves as top European talents over the years. All of them were impactful in the 2022 World Cup and are now playing at the highest levels of the game for trophy-winning teams. There are, indeed, exceptions to be found.

It's true, too, that teams can be wary of one-tournament wonders. Some players just get hot at the right time, or thrive off individual matchups. Others, such as England's Jordan Pickford, turn up for their country over short bursts in a way that they simply cannot for their club. There is no real way to project if that form will carry over.  

But the Rodriguez case is highly specific. Here was a player who could take over a game, wow crowds, and catch the eye of the kind of viewer who was tuning into a football match for the first time. You could imagine 'who's that lad?' being asked in dozens of languages in households and bars around the world. Put more simply: Rodriguez was immensely fun to watch. And he won things. 

Others haven't been quite so sexy. Fernandez scored an excellent goal in the group stage, but is a tempo-setting midfielder. Mac Allister, Tchouaméni, and Caicedo are more hard-nosed, workmanlike footballers (although their individual quality cannot be understated, either). 

Still, for the purpose of argument, here, we need someone who will take over a game, or at least have a major influence. We need goals, assists, and wow-moments. This player must catch the eye in a way that most on the pitch do not. The issue? Such is the world of social media and advanced football scouting that most players worth watching are already known quantities. No stone is unturned anymore. 

Paz, though, is worth watching. He fits the archetype. Most obviously, he's a left footed attacking midfielder who has an otherwise middling team punching above their weight. 

The Como midfielder impressed in his first season in Serie A, scoring six and adding eight assists in 2,700 minutes. This year, he has equalled those numbers in 1,800. He can create and find the back of the net in equal measure, and, most importantly, find the back of the net from distance. Half of his goals have come from outside the box, and only one of those was from a free-kick. In Como's most recent game, a convincing win over Lazio, Paz bagged two, including one wonderful strike from the top of the penalty area.

Yet he can do more than just score. Paz's dribbling numbers are agreeable. He is in the 88th percentile among midfielders for successful dribbles. He is also in the 30th percentile for number of times dispossessed, indicating that he is adept at holding onto the ball once he finds his spots. The profile, then, looks good.

There is perhaps one issue, though, in Paz's nationality. He plays for the Argentina national team, where many eagle-eyed viewers of the sport might have noticed is also the country of Lionel Messi. There is only room for one mercurial superstar here, and he's the one with eight Ballons d'Or. The Albiceleste, typically, demand a group that will put in the hard yards for the good of their captain. 

And while that may be true, there is also room for creativity elsewhere on this side. Angel Di Maria, for one, was a key part of the 2022 World Cup-winning side - and walked away from the international game following the 2024 Copa America triumph. Julian Alvarez has also made an impact for the team alongside Messi, or in advanced midfield areas. And Paz has shown in brief stints that he can share the pitch with Messi in a similar way. The two have combined effectively in friendlies, while Paz has also been a willing runner when called upon to be a more industrious presence. 

Of course, this all rather generously assumes that Messi will still suit up for Argentina in the upcoming World Cup. The Inter Miami star is yet to fully commit to playing for his national side at the tournament. And even if that looks likely, Messi has not guaranteed his inclusion. The stage could be set, then, for Paz to shine. 

The kicker in all of this? Paz is technically owned by Real Madrid. The Argentine came out of the La Fabrica academy, and earned some rather generous comparisons to Zinedine Zidane during his youth days. He has already made four appearances for Los Blancos, and the club reportedly holds a club-friendly €9 million buyback clause on the Argentine. 

Yet he's not the only one who might make their mark in a similar way. Gilberto Mora, the 17-year-old who plays for Club Tijuana, is expected to be a central presence for Mexico - and could be on his way to greener pastures with a good performance in the tournament. 

Sota Kitano has impressed for Salzburg this season and is expected to play a key role for Japan. The fact that he plays in the Red Bulls system signals that an RB Leipzig move is perhaps inevitable, but a more eye-catching showing could lead to another big club making a bid for the 22-year-old. There is also a case to be made for teenage center back Noahkai Banks, who has been in fine form for Augsburg and could earn a starting spot for the USMNT.

Either way, the point remains: there are plenty of good young players to watch here. And sure, many are known commodities. Yet it's important to remember that Rodriguez, at the time of the 2014 World Cup, played for Monaco. Mac Allister and Caicedo played for Brighton in 2022. Fernandez was a Benfica player. Gakpo was tearing up the Eredivisie for PSV. These tournaments, then, nowadays, are forums for those who are already impressive to truly shine. 

Paz might not be a breakout star in a traditional sense. But those who have preceded him weren't unknown, either. Instead, this could be the summer where he, like Rodriguez, takes over a tournament.