How a Boca Juniors trainee rose to become a World Cup champion
In short: From the youth ranks of the Barça Juniors Luján project to the pinnacle of global football, Nahuel Molina’s journey is a testament to elite development. His path through Argentina and Italy has led him to the highest honors, including a starting role in a World Cup final.
Born on 6 April 1998, Nahuel Molina Lucero began his professional journey within the specialized Barça Juniors Luján sports project in Argentina. This training path, which even included time spent training with FC Barcelona's lower sections, eventually integrated into the youth ranks of CA Boca Juniors in 2012. After making his first-team debut for Boca Juniors on 18 February 2016 against San Martín de San Juan, Molina's ascent through the professional tiers began in earnest.
His career saw significant movement across Europe and South America. Following a loan to Defensa y Justicia in 2018, he moved to Italy to join Udinese on a free transfer in September 2020. By 2022, he had joined Atlético Madrid for a reported fee of €10 million, plus €5 million in variables. His defensive reliability and attacking contributions made him a fixture for the Argentina national team, where he debuted in June 2021 against Chile.
Molina reached the summit of the sport during the 2022 FIFA World Cup, where he started in six matches and scored his first international goal against the Netherlands on 9 December 2022. He was a key part of the squad that secured the championship. However, his career has also seen intense scrutiny; following Argentina's loss to Spain in the 2026 World Cup final, Molina faced FIFA investigations in July 2026 regarding allegations of assault and unsporting behaviour.
Currently playing for the Serie A club Roma, Molina remains a prominent figure in international football, having been part of Argentina's successful 2021 and 2024 Copa América squads.
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