Nico Paz is starting to look like the kind of left-footed playmaker who can change games on the biggest stage, and Argentina may have found another World Cup weapon in the 20-year-old Como midfielder.
The comparisons to James Rodríguez are easy to understand. Like the Colombian was in 2014, Paz can glide through tight spaces, pick passes that others don’t see and strike the ball cleanly from range. He plays with the calm of a senior pro, but with the hunger of a youngster chasing his moment.
What has made his rise even more interesting is where it has happened. Paz has been building his name at Como, using the platform to show he can handle responsibility, dictate tempo and deliver end product. It is the type of steady growth that often gets ignored until a major tournament arrives and a player suddenly becomes a headline.
Argentina’s squad is still packed with world-class talent, but Paz offers something different: a natural creator who can operate between the lines, take up smart pockets of space and connect midfield to attack without slowing the game down. That profile is valuable in tight international matches, where one pass or one shot can decide everything.
His left foot is the clear standout. Whether he is bending a cross into the box, threading a through ball or shaping an effort from distance, Paz has the technique to hurt teams that sit deep. He is also comfortable receiving under pressure, opening his body quickly and playing forward, which fits the rhythm Argentina often try to impose.
Another part of his appeal is his versatility. Paz can play as a No.10, drift wide to create overloads, or drop slightly deeper to help bring the ball out. That flexibility gives the coaching staff options, especially if games require a change of shape or a more direct route to goal.
Of course, the World Cup does not wait for players to grow into it. It rewards those who can deliver immediately, and that is where the Rodríguez comparison really matters. If Paz carries his club form onto the international scene, he has the tools to become one of the tournament’s breakout stories.
Argentina have learned over the years that winning at a World Cup often comes down to depth and moments. Paz is not being asked to carry the team, but he looks capable of providing those decisive flashes that turn close matches in your favour.
If he keeps progressing the way he has at Como, don’t be surprised if Nico Paz arrives at the World Cup as a rising name and leaves it as one of the players everyone is talking about.
