Romano Benito Floriani Mussolini, great-grandson of the Italian dictator Benito Mussolini, lived this Friday a day that will mark his sporting career. With just a few minutes on the pitch, he was key in Cremonese's agonizing 3-2 Serie A victory over Sassuolo.

The 22-year-old came onto the pitch in the 83rd minute wearing the number 22 and the name "Romano" on his shirt. The match was tied at two goals and seemed headed for a draw, but the right-back's entry changed the course of the night.

A decisive appearance in the final minutes

Floriani Mussolini brought freshness to the right flank and was quick to create attacking danger. In one of his first interventions, he sent in a cross that was converted into an assist, although it was disallowed due to a previous foul. However, he did not lose heart. Deep into injury time, he earned a 92nd-minute penalty that Massimo De Luca converted, securing all three points for the Cremona side.

With this victory, newly promoted Cremonese claimed their second consecutive victory and finished the matchday at the top of the table.

Romano began his career in Roma's youth teams, but moved to Lazio in 2016, where he was even called up to the first team in 2021, although without making his official debut. He currently plays on loan at Cremonese, but his contract remains with the capital club. Last season, he made 33 appearances for Juve Stabia in Serie B, scoring one goal and providing three assists.

Beyond the pitch, his surname always attracts attention. He is the son of Alessandra Mussolini, an Italian politician and former Member of the European Parliament, and the grandson of musician Romano Mussolini. His great-aunt is the renowned actress Sophia Loren.

In recent interviews, the footballer has made it clear that he seeks to separate his career from his family's historical past. "My great-grandfather Benito was a very important figure for Italy, but it's 2024 and the world has changed. These things linked to my last name don't interest me. There will always be some prejudice, but my job has nothing to do with that and it doesn't affect me," he told La Gazzetta dello Sport.

He also noted that although he receives shouts in some stadiums and comments on social media, he doesn't give them any importance. "On the pitch, I don't feel anything beyond some shouts from the stands. My mother had a harder time because she's a politician and very exposed. You have to admire her for the way she defends herself," he added.