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Nico Paz and the match stats that make him the most exciting talent in Serie A

Nico Paz and the match stats that make him the most exciting talent in Serie A

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Who is the best player in Serie A right now? If you’re focusing on longevity and lifetime achievements, you might select Kevin De Bruyne or Luka Modrić. If you’re going by goal-scoring ability, you might pick Lautaro Martínez or Christian Pulisic. If you’re prioritizing last season’s achievements, you might go with reigning Serie A MVP Scott McTominay…

By Zach Lowy

…However, if you’re going by FotMob’s player ratings, there’s only one correct answer: Nico Paz (8.09).

Paz sits well ahead of second-placed Arijanet Murić (7.97) in the league rankings and only behind Harry Kane (9.07), Luís Diaz (8.28), Michael Olise (8.15), Erling Haaland (8.22), Kylian Mbappé (8.62), and Lamine Yamal (8.42) in Europe’s top five leagues. In just his second full professional season, Paz has emerged as an indispensable figure for a Como side that is daring to dream under Cesc Fàbregas. And just like Fàbregas, there’s every reason to believe that Paz can become one of the best attacking midfielders of his generation and win the biggest trophy in sports with his country.

Born in Santa Cruz de Tenerife, Spain, Nico is the son of a Spanish mother and an Argentine father – Pablo Paz – who played for Argentina in the 1998 FIFA World Cup. Initially, he looked set to follow in his father’s footsteps by becoming a centre back, only to depart the Canary Islands in 2016 and join Real Madrid’s academy, where he evolved into a centre forward and then a winger, before eventually settling into an attacking midfield role. Paz broke into the first team in November 2023 and was heavily involved for two months before being sent back to the reserves after various senior figures returned from injury. Whilst Paz only managed 128 minutes across eight appearances, he nevertheless ended the season with three trophies – LaLiga, UEFA Champions League and Supercopa de España – and a maiden senior goal vs. Napoli, before leaving Spain for the first time in his life and joining Serie A club Como on a four-year contract. Como paid €6 million for Paz, but Real Madrid retained a 50% sell-on clause as well as three different buyback options in 2025 (€9m), 2026 (€10m), and 2027 (€11m).

It didn’t take long for Paz to adjust to his new surroundings, breaking into the starting XI in September 2024 and bagging assists in wins vs. Atalanta and Hellas Verona, before being called up for Argentina’s World Cup qualifiers, where, merely 13 minutes after coming on for his senior debut, he assisted Lionel Messi’s goal in a 6-0 thrashing of Bolivia. He’s been called up for every single international window since then, amassing five caps, and he looks set to compete in his first-ever senior tournament with the Albiceleste in next summer’s FIFA World Cup.

Paz’s player traits comparison vs. similar players in top 5 leagues

“Nico Paz is a difference-maker,” stated Argentine journalist Julián Giacobbe. “He’s an attacking player with a brutal technical sensitivity and creation ability, who’s very polished for his age, and who’s already capable of being a playmaker like few others on the planet. He’s a creative attacking playmaker with a great duel-winning ratio, who can drop back into midfield and put in a willing effort off the ball. His excellent ball control and ability with either foot allow him to strike the ball well both with shots and passes. Last season, he was a breakthrough star, but now, many defenders and coaches are aware of his quality and are taking a slightly more cautious approach to him. Since going to Italy, he’s gone from being a young reserve with barely any playing time to the attacking talisman of an ambitious project like Como – he’s matured and developed, and he’s repaying their trust with great performances and consistent growth.”

In their first top-flight campaign in 21 years, Como finished in 10th place thanks in large place to Paz’s 6 goals and 9 assists in 35 appearances, enough to see him win the Serie A Best Young Player award and make the Serie A Team of the Season.

Paz’s passing numbers, Serie A current season

Operating as the central attacking midfielder in Como’s 4-2-3-1, Paz has thrived at making incisive runs into the box, delivering quick one-twos with his teammates, and launching counter-attacks with perfectly timed through balls, as well as taking aim from distance and getting just the right amount of swerve and height to elude the goalkeeper with his shots. Today, Paz leads all Serie A players for assists (4), goal contributions (8), and chances created (26). Only Federico Dimarco (11) has created more big chances than Paz (8), whilst only Riccardo Orsolini (5) has scored more goals than him (4). At 21 years of age, he’s emerged as the creative fulcrum of a Como side that is on track for European football and that currently sits sixth in the table, ahead of the likes of Juventus, Atalanta, and Lazio.

He’s taken his game to the next level since being given the No. 10 shirt, kicking off the 2025/26 Serie A season with a goal and assist vs. Lazio before bagging a goal vs. Genoa, two assists at Fiorentina and a goal vs. Cremonese. But his finest performance came on Sunday vs. Juventus, where he used his wand of a left foot to whip in a sumptuous cross for Marc-Oliver Kempf to volley home from close range. Como would double their lead in the 79th minute with Paz receiving the ball at the halfway line, sauntering forward and bamboozling Andrea Cambiaso fwith a deft shoulder drop, before bending a rocket into the back of the net. It was a world-class goal that was reminiscent of a certain Francesco Totti.

“At the moment, there aren’t many Italian talents…the only one I’m watching, even if he’s not Italian, is Nico Paz,” stated Totti in a recent interview. “I like him…he intrigues me so much. Real Madrid made the best choice; he will return to Madrid and become one of the best players in the world.”

It seems only a matter of time before Nico Paz is back at the Santiago Bernabéu, but for now, he’s focused on two things: helping Como qualify for Europe for the first time in four decades, and helping Argentina become the first team in a quarter-century to win back-to-back World Cups.

(Cover image from IMAGO)

You can follow the every Como game with FotMob – with in-depth stat coverage including xG, shot maps, and player ratings. Download the free app here.

Nico Paz and the match stats that make him the most exciting talent in Serie A

Who is the best player in Serie A right now? If you’re focusing on longevity and lifetime achievements, you might select Kevin De Bruyne or Luka Modrić. If you’re going by goal-scoring ability, you might pick Lautaro Martínez or Christian Pulisic. If you’re prioritizing last season’s achievements, you might go with reigning Serie A MVP Scott McTominay…

By Zach Lowy

…However, if you’re going by FotMob’s player ratings, there’s only one correct answer: Nico Paz (8.09).

Paz sits well ahead of second-placed Arijanet Murić (7.97) in the league rankings and only behind Harry Kane (9.07), Luís Diaz (8.28), Michael Olise (8.15), Erling Haaland (8.22), Kylian Mbappé (8.62), and Lamine Yamal (8.42) in Europe’s top five leagues. In just his second full professional season, Paz has emerged as an indispensable figure for a Como side that is daring to dream under Cesc Fàbregas. And just like Fàbregas, there’s every reason to believe that Paz can become one of the best attacking midfielders of his generation and win the biggest trophy in sports with his country.

Born in Santa Cruz de Tenerife, Spain, Nico is the son of a Spanish mother and an Argentine father – Pablo Paz – who played for Argentina in the 1998 FIFA World Cup. Initially, he looked set to follow in his father’s footsteps by becoming a centre back, only to depart the Canary Islands in 2016 and join Real Madrid’s academy, where he evolved into a centre forward and then a winger, before eventually settling into an attacking midfield role. Paz broke into the first team in November 2023 and was heavily involved for two months before being sent back to the reserves after various senior figures returned from injury. Whilst Paz only managed 128 minutes across eight appearances, he nevertheless ended the season with three trophies – LaLiga, UEFA Champions League and Supercopa de España – and a maiden senior goal vs. Napoli, before leaving Spain for the first time in his life and joining Serie A club Como on a four-year contract. Como paid €6 million for Paz, but Real Madrid retained a 50% sell-on clause as well as three different buyback options in 2025 (€9m), 2026 (€10m), and 2027 (€11m).

It didn’t take long for Paz to adjust to his new surroundings, breaking into the starting XI in September 2024 and bagging assists in wins vs. Atalanta and Hellas Verona, before being called up for Argentina’s World Cup qualifiers, where, merely 13 minutes after coming on for his senior debut, he assisted Lionel Messi’s goal in a 6-0 thrashing of Bolivia. He’s been called up for every single international window since then, amassing five caps, and he looks set to compete in his first-ever senior tournament with the Albiceleste in next summer’s FIFA World Cup.

Paz’s player traits comparison vs. similar players in top 5 leagues

“Nico Paz is a difference-maker,” stated Argentine journalist Julián Giacobbe. “He’s an attacking player with a brutal technical sensitivity and creation ability, who’s very polished for his age, and who’s already capable of being a playmaker like few others on the planet. He’s a creative attacking playmaker with a great duel-winning ratio, who can drop back into midfield and put in a willing effort off the ball. His excellent ball control and ability with either foot allow him to strike the ball well both with shots and passes. Last season, he was a breakthrough star, but now, many defenders and coaches are aware of his quality and are taking a slightly more cautious approach to him. Since going to Italy, he’s gone from being a young reserve with barely any playing time to the attacking talisman of an ambitious project like Como – he’s matured and developed, and he’s repaying their trust with great performances and consistent growth.”

In their first top-flight campaign in 21 years, Como finished in 10th place thanks in large place to Paz’s 6 goals and 9 assists in 35 appearances, enough to see him win the Serie A Best Young Player award and make the Serie A Team of the Season.

Paz’s passing numbers, Serie A current season

Operating as the central attacking midfielder in Como’s 4-2-3-1, Paz has thrived at making incisive runs into the box, delivering quick one-twos with his teammates, and launching counter-attacks with perfectly timed through balls, as well as taking aim from distance and getting just the right amount of swerve and height to elude the goalkeeper with his shots. Today, Paz leads all Serie A players for assists (4), goal contributions (8), and chances created (26). Only Federico Dimarco (11) has created more big chances than Paz (8), whilst only Riccardo Orsolini (5) has scored more goals than him (4). At 21 years of age, he’s emerged as the creative fulcrum of a Como side that is on track for European football and that currently sits sixth in the table, ahead of the likes of Juventus, Atalanta, and Lazio.

He’s taken his game to the next level since being given the No. 10 shirt, kicking off the 2025/26 Serie A season with a goal and assist vs. Lazio before bagging a goal vs. Genoa, two assists at Fiorentina and a goal vs. Cremonese. But his finest performance came on Sunday vs. Juventus, where he used his wand of a left foot to whip in a sumptuous cross for Marc-Oliver Kempf to volley home from close range. Como would double their lead in the 79th minute with Paz receiving the ball at the halfway line, sauntering forward and bamboozling Andrea Cambiaso fwith a deft shoulder drop, before bending a rocket into the back of the net. It was a world-class goal that was reminiscent of a certain Francesco Totti.

“At the moment, there aren’t many Italian talents…the only one I’m watching, even if he’s not Italian, is Nico Paz,” stated Totti in a recent interview. “I like him…he intrigues me so much. Real Madrid made the best choice; he will return to Madrid and become one of the best players in the world.”

It seems only a matter of time before Nico Paz is back at the Santiago Bernabéu, but for now, he’s focused on two things: helping Como qualify for Europe for the first time in four decades, and helping Argentina become the first team in a quarter-century to win back-to-back World Cups.

(Cover image from IMAGO)

You can follow the every Como game with FotMob – with in-depth stat coverage including xG, shot maps, and player ratings. Download the free app here.