From a missed penalty in Colombia to World Cup glory in Qatar
In short: In 2011, a young Nicolás Tagliafico watched his Argentina squad exit the U-20 World Cup after he missed a critical penalty. Years later, the Argentine left-back would stand on the world's biggest stage, starting in a World Cup final and lifting the trophy.
The career of Nicolás Tagliafico is defined by a remarkable ascent through the ranks of international football. His early years were marked by both promise and heartbreak; during the 2011 FIFA U-20 World Cup in Colombia, he missed the final kick in a penalty shootout against Portugal, resulting in Argentina's quarter-final exit. However, this setback did not prevent him from rising through every youth category for his nation, from the under-15s to the under-20s.
Tagliafico's professional journey took him from the Argentine club Banfield to the heights of European football. After a stint at Independiente, where he captained the side to a 2017 Copa Sudamericana victory, he moved to the Dutch giants Ajax in early 2018 for an estimated £4 million. Under manager Erik ten Hag, he became a defensive pillar, helping Ajax achieve a domestic double in the 2018–19 season and reaching the UEFA Champions League semi-finals, famously helping the team remain undefeated in their group stage by securing a draw against Bayern Munich.
His resilience was rewarded on the grandest scale. After representing Argentina in the 2018 World Cup and multiple Copa Américas, he was a starter in the 2022 World Cup final. In that decisive match against France, Argentina secured the championship via a 4–2 penalty shootout victory. Now playing for Lyon in France, Tagliafico continues to represent the pinnacle of defensive tenacity, a trait that has earned him comparisons to the legendary Javier Zanetti.
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