Nico Paz named in Argentina’s 2026 World Cup squad, eyes Messi minutes
Nico Paz has been named to Lionel Scaloni’s 26-man squad for the 2026 FIFA World Cup. The 21-year-old Como attacking midfielder said he would feel honoured if he comes on as a substitute for Lionel Messi. Paz noted he was only one year old during the 2006 World Cup, when Messi first announced himself on the global stage—highlighting the scale of the task of replacing a generational player.
Born on September 8, 2004, Paz developed through Real Madrid’s youth academy before moving to Serie A club Como in 2024 for €6 million. He has also earned caps for Argentina, including assisting Messi in a World Cup qualifying match in 2025.
Paz’s path to the 2026 World Cup was not completely smooth. He suffered a knee injury in May 2026, then returned to training with Argentina in early June. Scaloni’s choice of Paz in the World Cup squad signals intent, but his availability and match fitness will be tested after time away from competitive action.
Traders takeaway: this news is sports-focused and should have no direct linkage to crypto fundamentals, though it may marginally affect general risk sentiment around major global events.
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This article is about football—Nico Paz being named to Argentina’s 2026 World Cup squad and his knee injury recovery—not about crypto protocols, regulation, listings, hacks, or macro policy that could move digital-asset prices. Historically, major sports news can create small, short-lived attention or sentiment shifts, but it rarely affects crypto liquidity or on-chain fundamentals in a sustained way. Because there are no crypto-linked catalysts (no token/chain updates, no policy or security events), the expected market impact is neutral: traders should not change positions based solely on this news.