Argentine · Sarandí, Argentina · Born 24 May 1994Combative and technically brilliant Argentine midfielder whose goals and leadership were central to the World Cup-winning squad of 2022.
Rodrigo Javier De Paul was born on 24 May 1994 in Sarandí, in Greater Buenos Aires, Argentina, the youngest of three brothers, and joined Racing Club's youth academy at eight years old in 2002. He made his first-team debut a decade later, in 2012, while still a youth player, and progressed to become a regular in Racing's midfield. De Paul moved to Spain's Valencia in 2014, though his time there proved difficult, prompting a loan back to Racing before a permanent transfer to Italy's Udinese in 2016. He spent five productive seasons in Serie A, becoming club captain in 2020 and developing into one of the league's most complete central midfielders, combining tactical discipline with creative passing. Atlético Madrid signed De Paul in 2021, and he became an important squad member under Diego Simeone, known for his work rate and versatility across midfield positions. He later moved to Major League Soccer's Inter Miami in 2025, joining Lionel Messi's high-profile squad. De Paul has been a mainstay of the Argentina national team since his 2018 debut, playing a key role in the country's victorious 2021 Copa América and 2022 World Cup campaigns, and adding a second Copa América title in 2024 — establishing himself as one of the most dependable midfielders in Lionel Scaloni's title-winning generation.
Key player in Argentina's 2022 World Cup victory
He was one of Argentina's most consistently excellent performers at the 2022 World Cup, providing energy, technique and leadership throughout the successful campaign.
Did You Know?How They Played
Box-to-box midfielder with excellent passing range and work rate
Lasting Impact
De Paul established himself as one of Argentina's most important midfielders during their golden period of 2021-2022, helping end the national team's major trophy drought.
Career Honours
- World Cup 2022
- Copa América 2021
- La Liga 2021
- Finalissima 2022
| Club | Period | Fee | Apps | Goals |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Racing Club | 2012–2014 | £35m | 54 | 6 |
| Valencia | 2014–2016 | £35m | 34 | 1 |
| Racing Club | 2016–2016 | loan | 11 | 0 |
| Udinese | 2016–2021 | £35m | 177 | 33 |
| Atlético Madrid | 2021–2025 | £35m | 134 | 11 |
| Inter Miami | 2025–2025 | loan | 11 | 0 |
| Inter Miami | 2026–Present | — | 14 | 4 |
 Argentina | — | — | 73 | 3 |
Argentine Athletes