Nahuel Molina Lucero (born 6 April 1998) is an Argentine professional footballer who plays as a right-back for club Roma and the Argentina national team.
Molina started his career at Boca Juniors in Argentina. He moved to Udinese in Italy in 2020 before joining Atlético Madrid in 2022. Molina was part of the Argentina squads for the 2022, and 2026 World Cups, winning the 2022 edition where he started the final. He was also part of the squads at the 2021, and 2024 Copa Américas, which Argentina both won.
Club career Molina trained in the Barça Juniors Luján sports project, an FC Barcelona project in Argentina, which even led him to travel to Barcelona to train with the lower sections of FC Barcelona. In 2012, the Juniors Luján project was integrated into the youth ranks of CA Boca Juniors, and he continued his training in this club.
On 18 February 2016, Molina made his first team debut for Boca Juniors in a league game against San Martín de San Juan, playing the full game.https://historiadeboca.com.ar/jugadores/nahuel-molina-lucero/1203/1905/2018/1.html Historia de Boca.com.ar Nahuel Molina Lucero In January 2018, he was loaned out to Defensa y Justicia for the rest of the year.
On 15 September 2020, Molina joined Udinese on a free transfer until 2025.
On 28 July 2022, he joined Atlético Madrid on a five-year contract, for a reported fee of €10 million and €5 million in variables. He scored his first goal for the club in a 2–1 away win over Rayo Vallecano on 9 April 2023.
On 12 August 2026, Molina signed for Serie A side Roma.
International career On 3 June 2021, Molina debuted for the Argentina national team in a World Cup qualifier against Chile, coming on as a substitute for Juan Foyth in the 81st minute.
In the 2022 FIFA World Cup quarter-final match against the Netherlands on 9 December 2022, Molina scored his first goal for Argentina, starting in six matches for Argentina as first choice right-back scoring one goal and providing one assist throughout the tournament en route to become champions.
In June 2024, Molina was included in Lionel Scaloni's final 26-man Argentina squad for the 2024 Copa América.
On 27 May 2026, Molina was selected in the 26-man squad for the 2026 FIFA World Cup. Following Argentina's loss to Spain in the final, Molina and midfielder Leandro Paredes received condemnation for their violent conduct towards opposing players after the final whistle. On 29 July 2026, FIFA opened proceedings against Molina, investigating him for two counts of assault and one count of unsporting behaviour.
Career statistics
Club
+ Appearances and goals by club, season and competitionClubSeasonLeagueNational cupContinentalOtherTotalDivisionAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsBoca Juniors 2016–17Argentine Primera División80—10—90Defensa y Justicia (loan) 2017–18Argentine Primera División1412070—2312018–19Argentine Primera División30———30Total1712070—261Rosario Central (loan) 2018–19Argentine Primera División601060—1302019–20Argentine Primera División16120——181Total2213060—311Udinese2020–21Serie A29220——3122021–22Serie A35721——378Total64941——6810Atlético Madrid2022–23La Liga3344060—4342023–24La Liga30250100104622024–25La Liga3006081204612025–26La Liga2626013010462Total1198210371401819Roma2026–27Serie A400010—50Career total234193015214032021
International
+ Appearances and goals by national team and yearNational teamYearAppsGoalsArgentina202113020221412023802024130202580202690Total651
Scores and results list Argentina's goal tally first, score column indicates score after each Molina goal.
+ List of international goals scored by Nahuel Molina No. Date Venue Cap Opponent Score Result Competition 1 9 December 2022 Lusail Iconic Stadium, Lusail, Qatar 25 1–0 2–2 2022 FIFA World Cup
Honours
Atlético Madrid Copa del Rey runner-up: 2025–26
Argentina FIFA World Cup: 2022; runner-up: 2026 Copa América: 2021, 2024 CONMEBOL–UEFA Cup of Champions: 2022
References
External links
Profile at the Atlético Madrid website