“I didn’t talk to him, I was too ashamed” - Ex-Real Madrid talent Nico Paz opens up on first meeting with Lionel Messi in Argentina dressing room 

Former Real Madrid starlet Nico Paz has opened up about his first meeting with Lionel Messi in the dressing room and revealed that he was too ashamed to talk to him. The Serie A star added that he was too nervous despite previously meeting the Barcelona legend on the training pitch.

Speaking to DAZN, Paz stated that he had met Messi as a 17-year-old while he was with the U20s. However, he stayed away from the Inter Miami superstar when they were called up together for the Argentine national team. He said:

"I had met him once before, when I was 17 years old, with the U20s, in a training session with the senior national team. This was the second time I saw him, but the first time I was in the locker room with him. I didn't talk to him, I was too ashamed. I get nervous when I see him."

Nico Paz has played just one match with Lionel Messi and he assisted the Barcelona legend once. They were on the pitch together for 17 minutes against Bolivia – a match Argentina won 6-0.

Lionel Messi heaped praise on former Real Madrid starlet Nico Paz

Lionel Messi praised Nico Paz after they played together in the 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifiers against Bolivia.

He claimed that the former Real Madrid starlet has a lot of quality and said via GOAL:

"Now Nico Paz has made his debut, and he has a lot of quality, and I hope he continues to grow. He wasn't born when I made my debut in Primera, yes, I knew (laughs). He has a great head, he understands the game perfectly and I hope he continues like this. He played, he enjoyed it and I think he'll feel comfortable in this team because he likes having the ball."

“Nico Paz has an incredible mindset, and that’s why he’s where he is. Nico has a lot of quality and understands the game perfectly. He has an incredible mindset, and he’s with Cesc Fabregas as coach who is my friend and will help him grow a lot.”

Nico Paz never made his Real Madrid debut and moved to Como, where he is coached by Lionel Messi's former teammate, Cesc Fabregas. He has scored twice and assisted 4 times in his 15 Serie A matches this season.