Mattia Zaccagni made headlines with a stunning 98th-minute goal against Croatia, propelling Italy into the last-16 of Euro 2024. Until then, the Lazio winger was relatively unknown outside Italy, but his moment of brilliance is now seen as a pivotal point for the team's success.
However, his addition to the Azzurri squad in 2022 had the potential to create division due to a 'love triangle' involving him, his influencer wife and fellow Italy star Nicolo Zaniolo.
Chiara Nasti, who has over two million followers, previously dated Zaniolo before ending their relationship in April 2021 and starting a new chapter with Zaccagni. The couple welcomed their son Thiago in 2022 and married last June.
The situation took a public turn when Roma fans (rival supporters to Zaccagni's Lazio), mocked Mattia with chants suggesting his son was actually Zaniolo's.
Zaniolo, amused by the chants, was seen laughing, while Nasti, understandably upset, had to disable comments on her social media. In response to the taunts, Nasti lashed out at Zaniolo who had had a kid in 2020.
She wrote: "With that shrimp, we don't know how he has already had a child. You are losers and you also suck."
She quickly deleted her post, but the incident added fuel to the rumor mill, with some speculating that she might have dated both players simultaneously.
Despite the off-field drama, Italy's squad remained focused. Zaniolo and Zaccagni demonstrated their professionalism by playing together during Italy's 2-1 win over Ukraine in the Euro 2024 qualifiers.
Zaniolo has since moved on, now dating Italian model Sara Scaperrotta, while Zaccagni continues to shine for both club and country.
