by sportswriters Dong Yixing and Zhao Yan
DALLAS, United States, June 28 (Xinhua) -- When Argentina walked out for its final group-stage match against Jordan at the 2026 FIFA World Cup on Saturday, two young men carried more than just the national team's hopes. They carried their fathers' names.
Nico Paz and Giuliano Simeone stood together as starters for the first time at a World Cup, their presence marking a milestone for a nation that has long worshipped its footballing lineage.
The sons of two players who had shared a dressing room and a pitch at the 1998 World Cup in France were now entrusted with helping Argentina defend a crown their fathers never came close to lifting.
For Nico, the journey here had been a winding one that began on the Spanish island of Tenerife, where his Argentine father Pablo had played.
He grew up idolizing Lionel Messi and, as a child, moved from central defender, the position his father had played, into the more creative midfield role that has made him the heartbeat of Como's Serie A surge.
"My father has always been my role model," Nico had said of the influence of Pablo's career on his development. "His experiences have taught me the importance of dedication and perseverance in football."
Under the mentorship of Cesc Fabregas, he has evolved from a promising Real Madrid academy product into one of the most impactful young talents in Italy, recording 12 goals and seven assists in Serie A this season.
Giuliano was born in Rome while his father Diego patrolled the midfield for Lazio, and his life has been a testament to a family where football is less a sport than a shared language.
"I grew up in a family that lives and breathes football," he told FIFA ahead of the World Cup. "My grandfather absolutely loved it and my dad's passion for the game is clear for all to see, so his children were always going to be cut from the same cloth."
"We're all football-mad, too. And [my nephews] Tullio and Faustino will certainly turn out the same way. Football is a way of life in our family," Giuliano added.
That passion was tested when he suffered a fractured fibula and dislocated ankle during preseason with Alaves in August 2023. Yet even then, his focus never wavered.
"The first thought that went through my head was about reaching the World Cup and remember, I hadn't even represented Argentina at youth level," Giuliano said.
He set himself that target, worked relentlessly, and the effort eventually paid off with an Olympic appearance and a senior debut in November 2024.
Their fathers were part of Daniel Passarella's World Cup squad in 1998, sharing the pitch in Argentina's final group match win over Croatia.
Pablo was in the starting lineup and played the entire match, while Diego came on for Javier Zanetti just past the hour mark. Over a three-year span under Passarella, the two played together 12 times for Argentina.
In June last year, Nico and Giuliano had already started together in Argentina's qualifier victory over Chile, a dress rehearsal for their World Cup partnership in Dallas.
Argentina's youth national team coordinator, Enrique Cesana, has revealed the federation's increased efforts to identify players born abroad to Argentine parents, a project that has brought in players like Nico and Giuliano.
For Nico, the decision was never in doubt. When he made his senior debut against Bolivia, he assisted Messi in a 6-0 victory, a moment that stayed with him.
"Playing with Messi is a dream come true," he recalled. "He's been my idol since I was a kid. To be on the same pitch as him, and to set him up for a goal, was surreal."
Messi has been effusive in his praise.
"He has an incredible mindset," the Argentina captain said of Nico. "He understands the game perfectly, and I hope he continues like this."
Argentina coach Lionel Scaloni, who has shown a knack for trusting young players, has also been blunt about Nico's potential.
"It's not for me to say, but if Real Madrid has a buy-back option for Nico Paz, I wouldn't think twice," Scaloni said. "I know him - he has what it takes not only to play for Real Madrid, but to keep on taking his game to the next level."
For Giuliano, the weight of his family name is something he carries with quiet acceptance. His path under his father's management at Atletico Madrid initially seemed unlikely, as Diego had once famously declared that he would never coach his son.
"I don't like to talk too much about it from a dad's perspective," Diego had said. "He has what it takes to play for me, but unfortunately, I'm never going to have him. It's not easy having a son in the dressing room."
But Giuliano's performances, particularly at the Paris Olympics in 2024, forced a change of heart, and the club eventually moved him up to the first team.
After beating Jordan 3-1, Argentina now turns its attention to a knockout-stage clash against Cabo Verde, and the two sons will be eager to continue writing their shared story.
"We always focus on ourselves, any opponent is tough," Giuliano said after the match. "We have to try to do maximum damage to the opponent with our best weapons." ■
