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Romano Floriani Mussolini, the great-grandson of Italian fascist dictator Benito Mussolini, scored his first goal for Lazio in a 6-2 victory over Sassuolo on Tuesday, helping the Rome-based club move provisionally to the top of Serie A.
The 23-year-old right-back converted a low cross from Kenneth Taylor in the 16th minute to put Lazio 3-1 ahead, with the goal initially ruled out for offside before being awarded following a video assistant referee (VAR) review.
It was his first goal for Lazio and his first in Italy's top flight, having previously scored in Serie B while on loan at Juve Stabia.
"I'm really happy to have scored that first goal, but even more so about this win, which is crucial for us," Floriani Mussolini said after the match.
Lazio's 6-2 victory over Sassuolo, which saw the hosts reduced to 10 men in the first half, extended their unbeaten Serie A run to nine matches, leaving them level with Inter Milan on 25 points at the top of the standings.
Floriani Mussolini's family background has attracted attention throughout his career, particularly because of Lazio's historical association with far-right supporter groups.
The 23-year-old is the son of former Italian politician Alessandra Mussolini and a great-grandson of Benito Mussolini, who ruled fascist Italy from 1922 to 1943.
Sections of Lazio's organized supporters have been associated with far-right politics since the 1970s, with the club's Curva Nord later becoming particularly linked to the Irriducibili, a group founded in 1987 and known for its far-right ideology and controversies involving fascist symbols and racist behavior.
Floriani Mussolini, who developed through Lazio's academy before loan spells at several Italian clubs, has sought to keep his football career separate from discussions about his family history.
"My surname has never caused me any problems and, from my point of view, the less said about it, the better," he said in July 2025, according to Italian news agency ANSA.
"I'm here to express myself on the pitch, nothing else."
His first senior goal, scored while playing for Juve Stabia in December 2024, also sparked controversy after some supporters appeared to perform fascist salutes during the celebrations.
The Italian Football Federation opened an investigation into the incident, while Juve Stabia denied the allegations, saying supporters were raising their arms as part of a customary goal celebration. (AA)
