Nico Paz stars with brace and assist as Como stun Manchester United in the Champions League

Nico Paz turned Como's home clash with Manchester United into his own breakout night. At 22 years and 43 days old, the attacking midfielder produced a MVP display in the Champions League, scoring twice and adding an assist as the Italian side powered to a 4-1 victory. The performance confirmed the former Real Madrid academy player as one of the revelations of the European season.

• Nico Paz scored two goals and provided one assist in Como's 4-1 win over Manchester United.
• Real Madrid holds a unilateral buy-back clause set at €80 million for the Argentine midfielder.
• Italian and international media described his showing as a masterclass and a one-man show.
• Paz called the Champions League night one of the most special of his life and career.
• After Lionel Messi's international retirement, Argentina views Paz as a strong candidate for the number 10 shirt.

A midfield masterclass against Manchester United

Cesc Fabregas' Como did not just compete against one of the biggest clubs in Europe: they outplayed them for long stretches. Nico Paz was at the center of everything, dictating the tempo from the attacking midfield role, drifting between the lines and punishing the English defense with a maturity well beyond his years. The final scoreline reflected the authority of a team making its Champions League debut but playing with the confidence of an established contender.

It is one of the most special nights of my life and my career, for me and for the club. I am still young, but I will never forget it.

The Italian press quickly highlighted the scale of his exhibition. La Gazzetta dello Sport, Tuttosport, Corriere dello Sport and Calciomercato all led with the Argentine's brace and Como's show. Further afield, CBS Sports described it as a masterclass and called Nico Paz the perfect number 10 for this side.

The €80 million buy-back clause that keeps Real Madrid in play

Nico Paz's rise is not only shaking up Como's present. It also forces Real Madrid to weigh a major decision. The Spanish club has a unilateral buy-back option set at €80 million, a figure that once looked steep but is increasingly being viewed as a chance to bring back a rapidly improving talent. Paz left Real Madrid in search of minutes and responsibility, and he has found in Fabregas' project the ideal stage to grow.

His progress has been so sharp that Argentina now lists him among the players expected to carry the national team through the next decade. Messi's recent retirement from international football reopened the debate over who will inherit the iconic number 10 shirt, and the 2004-born midfielder stands out as the leading candidate.

From Real Madrid's academy to Argentina's senior squad

Nico Paz was born in Santa Cruz de Tenerife on September 8, 2004. He is the son of Pablo Paz, the former Argentine footballer who played for Tenerife and Valladolid in Spain. That dual background explains why there was long debate over whether he might choose Spain. But Argentina's call came first. In 2023, his father explained that Spain never contacted him, and the opportunity to represent Argentina arrived at the perfect time for a player who was able to train alongside Messi, his idol.

I was born in Spain. I love both countries, but in the end I decided to represent Argentina. I believe it is the country that represents me most, because of the way football is lived there and because of my father, and it is a pride to follow in his footsteps.

Already established as one of Lionel Scaloni's so-called 'Europibes', he has earned fourteen senior caps for Argentina. His commitment to the Albiceleste is beyond question, and every performance in Europe strengthens his place in a midfield looking for new leaders.

The Messi connection and a Como shirt that excites Argentina

Messi's presence also appeared after the match, though indirectly. A photo of Ciro, Messi's son, wearing a Como shirt caught the attention of fans. Nico Paz welcomed the image as proof that the club is on the right path. For him, seeing the son of the greatest player in history in a Como shirt confirms the growth of a team that, not long ago, was nowhere near the game's biggest stages.

Cesc Fabregas later clarified the origin of that jersey. The Spanish coach explained that he is very close friends with Messi and their families, and that he himself sent several Como shirts. The one in the social media post, however, was not a Nico Paz shirt but one bearing his own name and the number 4 he wore during his playing career.

Como look to keep the Champions League run going

After the win, Nico Paz stressed the importance of enjoying every match and trying to repeat such a complete performance. This is Como's first ever Champions League campaign, and each fixture marks a milestone for a club that has gone from chasing modest objectives to sharing the stage with Europe's elite in just a few years. For the Spanish-born midfielder, the key lies in staying ambitious without losing the freshness that has brought them this far.

His performance against Manchester United raises expectations for the rest of the season. If he maintains this level, the €80 million separating Como from Real Madrid will stop being a mere contractual detail and become one of the major storylines of the next transfer window.