# Nahuel Molina
**Nahuel Molina** (Nahuel Molina Lucero, born 1998 in Embalse, Córdoba, Argentina) is an Argentine footballer who plays as a right back for [AS Roma](https://www.edgepedia.org/as-roma) in [Serie A](https://www.edgepedia.org/serie-a) and for the Argentina national team, with whom he won the 2022 [FIFA World Cup](https://www.edgepedia.org/fifa-world-cup).[1](https://www.atleticodemadrid.com/noticias/bienvenido-nahuel-molina) • [2](https://elpais.com/deportes/futbol/2026-08-12/nahuel-molina-se-marcha-del-atletico-de-madrid-y-ficha-por-la-as-roma.html) He is an attacking full back known for overlapping runs, crossing, and long-range shooting.[3](https://totalfootballanalysis.com/article/nahuel-molina-at-atletico-madrid-202223-scout-report-tactical-analysis-tactics)
| Key fact | Detail |
|---|---|
| Full name / born | Nahuel Molina Lucero, 1998, Embalse, Córdoba, Argentina[1](https://www.atleticodemadrid.com/noticias/bienvenido-nahuel-molina) |
| Position | Right back; 175 cm, 69 kg[4](https://www.bdfutbol.com/en/j/j29588.html?p=stats) |
| Clubs | Boca Juniors, Defensa y Justicia (loan), Rosario Central, Udinese (2020–2022), Atlético Madrid (2022–2026), AS Roma (2026–)[1](https://www.atleticodemadrid.com/noticias/bienvenido-nahuel-molina) • [2](https://elpais.com/deportes/futbol/2026-08-12/nahuel-molina-se-marcha-del-atletico-de-madrid-y-ficha-por-la-as-roma.html) |
| Atlético record | 181 matches, 9 goals, 16 assists (El País reports 17)[5](https://as.com/futbol/primera/oficial-nahuel-molina-anuncia-su-salida-del-atletico-f202608-n/) • [2](https://elpais.com/deportes/futbol/2026-08-12/nahuel-molina-se-marcha-del-atletico-de-madrid-y-ficha-por-la-as-roma.html) |
| International honors | World Cup 2022, Finalissima 2022, Copa América 2021 and 2024; 2026 World Cup runner-up[2](https://elpais.com/deportes/futbol/2026-08-12/nahuel-molina-se-marcha-del-atletico-de-madrid-y-ficha-por-la-as-roma.html) |
| Move to Roma | August 2026, four-year contract, shirt number 20; fee reported around 17 million euros by AS and around 20 million by Cadena SER[5](https://as.com/futbol/primera/oficial-nahuel-molina-anuncia-su-salida-del-atletico-f202608-n/) • [6](https://cadenaser.com/nacional/2026/08/12/atletico-de-madrid-y-as-roma-acuerdan-el-traspaso-de-nahuel-molina-por-alrededor-de-20-millones-de-euros-cadena-ser/) |
## Early career in Argentina
Molina came through the youth ranks of [Boca Juniors](https://www.edgepedia.org/boca-juniors) and debuted for the first team on 18 February 2016, at 17 years old, in a Primera División match against San Martín de San Juan; he made 9 appearances for the club in the league and the [Copa Libertadores](https://www.edgepedia.org/copa-libertadores).[7](https://www.udinese.it/Apps/WebObjects/Udinese.woa/wa/viewSection?id=45479&lang=esp) In 2017 he moved on loan to [Defensa y Justicia](https://www.edgepedia.org/defensa-y-justicia), where he stayed until 2018 and made 24 appearances with one goal across the league, cup, and Copa Sudamericana.[7](https://www.udinese.it/Apps/WebObjects/Udinese.woa/wa/viewSection?id=45479&lang=esp) He then played for Rosario Central, appearing in 31 matches over two seasons with one goal.[7](https://www.udinese.it/Apps/WebObjects/Udinese.woa/wa/viewSection?id=45479&lang=esp)
## Udinese
In September 2020 Molina joined Udinese, his first European club, signing a five-year contract to June 2025.[7](https://www.udinese.it/Apps/WebObjects/Udinese.woa/wa/viewSection?id=45479&lang=esp) Over two Serie A seasons he played 68 matches and contributed 10 goals and 7 assists.[1](https://www.atleticodemadrid.com/noticias/bienvenido-nahuel-molina) His attacking output from the right side was unusually high for the position: in his final season he attempted 3.24 crosses per 90 minutes with 42.57 percent accuracy, far more than his Udinese teammate [Destiny Udogie](https://www.edgepedia.org/destiny-udogie).[3](https://totalfootballanalysis.com/article/nahuel-molina-at-atletico-madrid-202223-scout-report-tactical-analysis-tactics) Udinese's technical director Pierpaolo Marino described him at signing as a young player able to cover the right flank with versatility and technique, good at joining the attack and at tracking back.[7](https://www.udinese.it/Apps/WebObjects/Udinese.woa/wa/viewSection?id=45479&lang=esp)
## Atlético Madrid
[Atlético Madrid](https://www.edgepedia.org/atletico-madrid) signed Molina in the summer of 2022 on a five-season contract after an agreement with Udinese.[1](https://www.atleticodemadrid.com/noticias/bienvenido-nahuel-molina) He arrived as one of the standout right backs in Serie A and, a few months later, won the World Cup with Argentina.[5](https://as.com/futbol/primera/oficial-nahuel-molina-anuncia-su-salida-del-atletico-f202608-n/)
Across four seasons he made 181 appearances, scoring 9 goals; AS counts 16 assists and [El País](https://www.edgepedia.org/el-pais) 17.[5](https://as.com/futbol/primera/oficial-nahuel-molina-anuncia-su-salida-del-atletico-f202608-n/) • [2](https://elpais.com/deportes/futbol/2026-08-12/nahuel-molina-se-marcha-del-atletico-de-madrid-y-ficha-por-la-as-roma.html) His attacking contribution was his strongest suit: coach [Diego Simeone](https://www.edgepedia.org/diego-simeone) valued his depth, ability to break lines, and arrival in the opponent's area.[5](https://as.com/futbol/primera/oficial-nahuel-molina-anuncia-su-salida-del-atletico-f202608-n/) In the 2025-26 season he scored two long-range goals in [La Liga](https://www.edgepedia.org/la-liga), against Getafe and at Real Madrid's Bernabéu stadium, prompting Simeone to note that he strikes the ball very well from medium distance.[8](https://as.com/futbol/primera/el-canonero-nahuel-titular-ante-un-barca-que-le-inspira-f202604-n/) His time at the club was nonetheless marked by irregularity, and the polyvalent Marcos Llorente's establishment on the right flank limited his minutes; Atlético considered the position covered when selling him.[5](https://as.com/futbol/primera/oficial-nahuel-molina-anuncia-su-salida-del-atletico-f202608-n/)
In May 2026 he suffered a small hamstring tear in a match against Celta and missed the last three weeks of the season, though his place at the World Cup was not in doubt.[9](https://as.com/futbol/primera/nahuel-adios-a-la-temporada-f202605-n/)
## AS Roma
After the 2026 World Cup, Molina decided to leave Atlético and return to Italian football. Atlético and AS Roma agreed a transfer in August 2026, with AS reporting a fee of around 17 million euros and Cadena SER around 20 million.[5](https://as.com/futbol/primera/oficial-nahuel-molina-anuncia-su-salida-del-atletico-f202608-n/) • [6](https://cadenaser.com/nacional/2026/08/12/atletico-de-madrid-y-as-roma-acuerdan-el-traspaso-de-nahuel-molina-por-alrededor-de-20-millones-de-euros-cadena-ser/) He signed a four-year contract and chose shirt number 20.[2](https://elpais.com/deportes/futbol/2026-08-12/nahuel-molina-se-marcha-del-atletico-de-madrid-y-ficha-por-la-as-roma.html) Molina announced the departure himself on social media, thanking the club after four years.[5](https://as.com/futbol/primera/oficial-nahuel-molina-anuncia-su-salida-del-atletico-f202608-n/)
## Argentina national team
Molina's form at Udinese earned him a debut with Argentina under coach [Lionel Scaloni](https://www.edgepedia.org/lionel-scaloni) in World Cup qualifying, and he played 5 matches in the 2021 [Copa América](https://www.edgepedia.org/copa-america), which Argentina won.[1](https://www.atleticodemadrid.com/noticias/bienvenido-nahuel-molina) He was part of the squad that won the 2022 World Cup in Qatar, appearing in the final against France, which Argentina won 4-2 on penalties after a 3-3 draw.[10](https://fdp.fifa.org/assetspublic/ce44/r2864/pdf/FullTimeMatchReport-English.pdf) • [11](https://www.fifa.com/es/articles/argentina-le-gano-por-penales-a-francia-y-se-consagro-campeon-del-mundo) In the quarterfinal against the Netherlands he scored from a vertical pass by [Lionel Messi](https://www.edgepedia.org/lionel-messi), running into the space Messi created.[12](https://pitch-stars.com/nahuel-molina-guide/) He also won the 2022 Finalissima and the 2024 Copa América.[2](https://elpais.com/deportes/futbol/2026-08-12/nahuel-molina-se-marcha-del-atletico-de-madrid-y-ficha-por-la-as-roma.html)
At the 2026 World Cup, held in the United States, Mexico, and Canada, Molina played 7 matches and 531 minutes as Argentina reached the final, where it lost 1-0 to Spain and finished as runner-up.[2](https://elpais.com/deportes/futbol/2026-08-12/nahuel-molina-se-marcha-del-atletico-de-madrid-y-ficha-por-la-as-roma.html) • [13](https://www.flickstat.com/worldcup/player/nahuel-molina) El País credits him with 65 senior international appearances.[2](https://elpais.com/deportes/futbol/2026-08-12/nahuel-molina-se-marcha-del-atletico-de-madrid-y-ficha-por-la-as-roma.html)
## Style of play
Molina is an offensive right back whose defining trait is the frequency and quality of his forward runs, with strong crossing, sprinting, and final delivery; statistical comparisons place his crossing success, touch count, and attacking involvement above the La Liga right-back average.[12](https://pitch-stars.com/nahuel-molina-guide/) A tactical analysis of his Udinese seasons found clean technique in dribbling and passing and effective combination play on the right wing, with his attacking influence peaking in the final third.[3](https://totalfootballanalysis.com/article/nahuel-molina-at-atletico-madrid-202223-scout-report-tactical-analysis-tactics) His main limitation is defensive positioning: the space left by his forward forays is often exploited, which has made his fit with Simeone's defensively disciplined Atlético sides difficult.[12](https://pitch-stars.com/nahuel-molina-guide/) At 175 cm he is small for the position and can be at a physical disadvantage in aerial duels and one-on-ones against strong wingers, compensating with agility and reading of positioning.[12](https://pitch-stars.com/nahuel-molina-guide/)
## References
1. [¡Bienvenido, Nahuel Molina! – Club Atlético de Madrid official website](https://www.atleticodemadrid.com/noticias/bienvenido-nahuel-molina)
2. [Nahuel Molina se marcha del Atlético de Madrid y ficha por la AS Roma – El País](https://elpais.com/deportes/futbol/2026-08-12/nahuel-molina-se-marcha-del-atletico-de-madrid-y-ficha-por-la-as-roma.html)
3. [Nahuel Molina: Atlético Madrid's new Argentine right-back – Total Football Analysis](https://totalfootballanalysis.com/article/nahuel-molina-at-atletico-madrid-202223-scout-report-tactical-analysis-tactics)
4. [Nahuel Molina Lucero statistics – BDFutbol](https://www.bdfutbol.com/en/j/j29588.html?p=stats)
5. [Oficial: Nahuel Molina sale del Atlético y firma por la Roma – AS](https://as.com/futbol/primera/oficial-nahuel-molina-anuncia-su-salida-del-atletico-f202608-n/)
6. [Atlético de Madrid y AS Roma acuerdan el traspaso de Nahuel Molina por alrededor de 20 millones de euros – Cadena SER](https://cadenaser.com/nacional/2026/08/12/atletico-de-madrid-y-as-roma-acuerdan-el-traspaso-de-nahuel-molina-por-alrededor-de-20-millones-de-euros-cadena-ser/)
7. [Molina è un nuovo giocatore dell'Udinese – Udinese official website](https://www.udinese.it/Apps/WebObjects/Udinese.woa/wa/viewSection?id=45479&lang=esp)
8. [El 'cañonero' Nahuel, titular ante un Barça que le inspira – AS](https://as.com/futbol/primera/el-canonero-nahuel-titular-ante-un-barca-que-le-inspira-f202604-n/)
9. [Nahuel, adiós a la temporada – AS](https://as.com/futbol/primera/nahuel-adios-a-la-temporada-f202605-n/)
10. [FIFA Full Time Match Report: Argentina v France, 18 December 2022](https://fdp.fifa.org/assetspublic/ce44/r2864/pdf/FullTimeMatchReport-English.pdf)
11. [Argentina le ganó por penales a Francia y se consagró campeón del mundo – FIFA](https://www.fifa.com/es/articles/argentina-le-gano-por-penales-a-francia-y-se-consagro-campeon-del-mundo)
12. [ナウエル・モリーナ完全ガイド – PITCH STAR](https://pitch-stars.com/nahuel-molina-guide/)
13. [Nahuel Molina – FlickStat World Cup profile](https://www.flickstat.com/worldcup/player/nahuel-molina)
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*Topic: Encyclopedia › Sports, games, and recreation › Association football › Football people and teams › People › Men's footballers of South America › Argentine men's footballers › Argentine goalkeepers and defenders*
*Initially written Sep 17, 2026 · Reviewed: Oct 21, 2026 · Edited: Oct 12, 2026; Oct 15, 2026; Oct 21, 2026 · Last review: Oct 21, 2026*
*Copyright 2026 EdgeChat AI, a subsidiary of Biostate AI.*
License: Edgepedia Community License 1.0, https://www.edgepedia.org/edgepedia/license