Romano Floriani Mussolini, the great-grandson of former Italian dictator Benito Mussolini, scored his first Serie A goal for Lazio in their 6-2 win over Sassuolo on Tuesday, October 27. The 23-year-old defender found the net in the 16th minute to put Lazio 3-1 ahead, as Gennaro Gattuso's side maintained their unbeaten start to the season and moved provisionally to the top of the Serie A standings.

Floriani Mussolini's goal came after Kenneth Taylor had given Lazio an early lead and Gustav Isaksen had restored their advantage following Josip Sutalo's own-goal equaliser. The defender's strike was initially flagged for offside, but a video review overturned the decision, allowing him to register his first goal in Italy's top flight.

Lazio went on to secure a comfortable victory, with Mattia Zaccagni scoring before half-time and Tijjani Noslin adding two goals in the second half. Sassuolo's task became more difficult after Kristian Thorstvedt was sent off for a foul on Zaccagni shortly after the half-hour mark.

The result took Lazio to 25 points from nine matches, with eight wins and one draw, three points ahead of Inter Milan, who were due to visit bottom-placed Venezia on Wednesday. Roma were third on 23 points after beating Cagliari 4-2, while Como moved to fourth with a 3-1 win at Torino.

WHO IS FLORIANI MUSSOLINI?

For Floriani Mussolini, however, the goal was a personal milestone in a career that has attracted attention for reasons beyond football. He is the great-grandson of Benito Mussolini, who ruled Italy as a fascist dictator from 1922 to 1943.

His mother, Alessandra Mussolini, is an actress-turned-politician, while his grandfather, Romano Mussolini, was a jazz pianist. His great-aunt is celebrated Italian actress Sophia Loren. The family connection has made the young defender a subject of interest in Italian football, where his surname carries considerable historical weight.

Born in Rome on January 27, 2003, Floriani Mussolini began his football journey in the youth system of Roma before switching to city rivals Lazio in 2016. He progressed through Lazio's academy and signed his first professional contract with the club in 2021.

The right-back subsequently moved away from Lazio to gain senior experience. He joined Pescara for the 2023-24 season, playing in Serie C, before moving to Juve Stabia in Serie B for the following campaign. At Juve Stabia, he scored his first senior goal and established himself as a regular, making more than 30 appearances.

In July 2025, he joined Cremonese on loan and made his Serie A debut during the 2025-26 season. He made 28 league appearances before returning to Lazio for the 2026-27 campaign, seeking to establish himself at the club where he had developed as a young player.

His goal against Sassuolo marked another step in that progression. While he is still working to secure a regular place in Lazio's first team, scoring in a convincing league victory offered the defender an opportunity to make his mark on the pitch.

FAMILY NAME THAT ATTRACTS ATTENTION

Floriani Mussolini's family name has followed him throughout his football career. Benito Mussolini's legacy remains deeply controversial in Italy because of the fascist regime, its repression and the country's involvement in the Second World War.

The defender has attracted scrutiny over incidents involving supporters' chants and alleged fascist gestures at matches. His surname has consequently become a recurring subject of media coverage whenever he features for Lazio or their opponents.

Floriani Mussolini has said that he has no interest in politics and wants to focus on football. He wears "Romano" on the back of his shirt rather than his full surname, keeping his first name prominent as he pursues his career.

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