Nicolás Paz after final: ‘I’ll give all to bring the cup to Argentina’

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·20 July 2026

Nicolás Paz after final: ‘I’ll give all to bring the cup to Argentina’

Argentina national team midfielder Nicolás Paz shared an emotional message on social media after the 1-0 defeat to Spain in the 2026 World Cup final. Despite the pain of the loss at MetLife Stadium, the footballer born in Tenerife reaffirmed his pride in wearing the sky-blue and white shirt, breaking the silence maintained by the delegation as they left the stadium.

On his Instagram account, the Como midfielder from Italy — who came through the youth ranks at Real Madrid — posted a photo of the squad along with words of gratitude for his teammates and the fans. His post reflected a deep conviction in the path he chose, setting aside any doubts about having faced the country of his birth.

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“Today more than ever, I’m proud to represent this country, this national team, and to be part of a group of incredible people who would die for these colors and leave their heart and soul at every moment. All I can say is thank you,” the footballer wrote.

View this post on Instagram A post shared by Nicolás Paz (@nicopaz1o)

A family bond and an unprecedented event in World Cup finals

The 21-year-old footballer made history by becoming the first player to face the country of his own birth in a World Cup final. Although he grew up on European soil and retains local customs, his connection to Argentina comes directly from his father, Pablo Paz, a former defender who was part of the national squad at the 1998 World Cup in France.

The midfielder himself — who saw minutes in this tournament in the matches against Algeria and Jordan — had previously explained how that sense of belonging was built within his family:

“Ever since I was little, my father instilled in me the passion that the whole country has. He bought me shirts with my name on them, always cheering me on from a little farther away than everyone else.”

Congratulations to the opponent and a promise for the future

Toward the end of his post, the young left-footer maintained a gracious stance by congratulating the new world champion, concluding with a firm promise aimed at the next World Cup cycle to bounce back from finishing as runner-up.

“Congratulations to Spain and to all Spaniards. Come on Argentina, always, through the good times and the bad!” he said, before declaring: “I promise to give absolutely everything of myself to bring this cup back to Argentina.”

This article was translated into English by Artificial Intelligence. You can read the original version in 🇪🇸 here.