Rodrigo De Paul: From Racing Club to MLS Star
The push and shove that erupted late in Inter Miami’s 1-1 draw with the Chicago Fire was brief, but it said everything about Rodrigo De Paul.
Robert Lewandowski and Ian Fray tangled first, exchanging shoves as tempers flared. De Paul didn’t hesitate. He sprinted into the frame, went straight at the Polish striker and made it abundantly clear he would not let anyone bully his teammate. No words were needed; his body language did the talking.
That raw flash of anger put the spotlight back on a player who has spent 11 years grinding through European football before landing in MLS alongside Lionel Messi. Behind the tattoos, the snarling midfield persona and the World Cup medals sits something else: a fortune carefully built over more than a decade at the top.
From Racing to riches
De Paul’s estimated net worth stands at around $25 million, according to Celebrity Net Worth. It’s not a forensic breakdown of his bank accounts, but it does trace a career that has taken him from Argentina to Spain, Italy and now the United States, with salaries, bonuses and endorsements layered on along the way.
The clearest snapshot of his current earning power comes from his Inter Miami deal. Figures published by the MLS Players Association list him on a base salary of $7.57 million, with roughly $9.69 million in guaranteed annual compensation for 2026. Only two players in the league earn more: Lionel Messi and Son Heung-min. De Paul sits on the third rung of MLS’s financial ladder.
He didn’t arrive there overnight. He came through at Racing Club, earned his move to Valencia, then rebuilt his reputation during five hard-running seasons with Udinese. Atlético Madrid saw enough to pay around €35 million for him in 2021. Four years later, Inter Miami spent about €14.5 million to bring him to MLS on a permanent deal.
Those transfer fees went to clubs, not directly into De Paul’s pocket, but they chart his rise. Each step up in market value strengthened his hand at the negotiating table and helped secure more lucrative contracts.
Capology estimates his career gross base salary at close to $29.9 million, not counting bonuses, endorsements or image rights. The true total is higher, but just how much higher is impossible to pin down. FIFA awarded the Argentine federation $42 million for winning the 2022 World Cup, yet never revealed individual player payouts. The same goes for his bonuses from Argentina’s Copa América triumphs in 2021 and 2024. Those numbers stay behind closed doors.
A different kind of glory
Lewandowski’s résumé is loaded with club trophies: a Champions League title, multiple Bundesliga crowns, season after season among Europe’s most feared scorers. Internationally, though, he has never lifted a major trophy with Poland.
De Paul’s story runs on a different track. His pride is anchored in the sky-blue and white of Argentina. He became the relentless midfielder at Messi’s side, the one who runs, tackles, covers and confronts. Two Copa América titles. The 2022 World Cup. A role built on sweat, aggression and an instinct to protect the players around him.
That’s exactly what flashed through in Chicago when he stormed toward Lewandowski. It wasn’t just about one shove in one MLS match. It was the same edge that has carried him through finals and defining nights for his country.
Family, fashion and a permanent reminder
Away from the chaos of the pitch, De Paul’s life is just as closely watched. He is the youngest of three sons born to Mónica Ferrarotti and Roberto De Paul. He has two children, Francesca and Bautista, from his former relationship with Camila Homs. In Argentina, the twists of his family life have often generated as many headlines as his form in midfield.
His European chapter stretched for roughly 11 years, from his move to Valencia in 2014 to his departure from Atlético Madrid for Inter Miami in 2025. During that time he cultivated a sharp interest in fashion and an obvious love of tattoos. One stands out above the rest: the date of Argentina’s 2022 World Cup triumph, inked on his neck.
It’s a permanent stamp of the night that changed his career forever—and a reminder of why, when the pushing starts, Rodrigo De Paul never takes a step back.
