He was born on May 24, 1994, in Sarandí, Buenos Aires, and started kicking a ball at the age of three at Deportivo Belgrano, following in the footsteps of his older brother Damián. Since there wasn’t a team for his age group, he had to play with older kids, which often meant playing as a goalkeeper. At the age of eight, he joined the youth ranks of Racing Club, beginning a journey that would lead him to become a professional footballer—a goal he achieved in 2013, when he made his debut for La Academia. During those formative years, Luis Zubeldía, then head coach of Racing, played a crucial role in keeping him motivated.

At the age of 14, he came close to quitting football after the death of his grandfather, Osvaldo De Paul. His first instinct was to move in with his grandmother, who had been left alone. Determined, he stopped attending training sessions, but a week later, his reserve team coach came to find him and convinced him to return to the club. That gesture proved to be pivotal for his future—and that of his entire family.

Rodrigo De Paul officially debuted for Racing on February 10, 2013, coming on as a substitute for Diego Villar in a 3-0 defeat against Atlético de Rafaela. In May 2014, he was transferred to Valencia for €4.7 million. His debut for the Spanish club was one to forget, as he was sent off just one minute into the match against Sevilla. He returned to Racing in 2016, but after a short stint where he didn’t play as much as expected, he headed back to Europe. Without a place at Valencia, he landed at Udinese, where he finally broke out. He evolved into a complete box-to-box midfielder, adding dynamism and defensive work to his technical skill—traits that caught the attention of Lionel Scaloni.

“The Little Engine” of the Argentina National Team

He was first called up in October 2018 for a FIFA international window, part of the squad overhaul led by interim coach Lionel Scaloni. Argentina claimed a 4-0 win over Iraq, and from that moment on, De Paul became a fixture in midfield, bringing energy, ball recovery, and a fresh spark to the squad. He quickly became one of Lionel Messi’s closest allies. Coming off a bitter World Cup in Russia 2018, Messi welcomed the new core of players, and the bond between them grew into a strong friendship. Together, they became World Champions in Qatar 2022 and two-time Copa América winners (2021 and 2024), forming a duo that thrives both on and off the pitch.

After leaving Atlético de Madrid, where he scored 14 goals and provided 26 assists over four seasons, Rodrigo De Paul reunited with Messi at Inter Miami. Following several weeks of negotiations, his transfer was made official on July 25, 2025, for a fee of €15 million, signing a contract until 2029. He made his debut on July 30 during the opening match of the 2025 Leagues Cup group stage, helping the team to a 2-1 win over Atlas.