Rodrigo De Paul: From Racing Club to MLS Heavyweight

The draw was already tense. Then tempers snapped.

A late flashpoint in Inter Miami’s 1-1 stalemate with the Chicago Fire turned a routine MLS night into something far more raw. Robert Lewandowski and Ian Fray tangled, shoving each other in the closing stages. Within seconds, Rodrigo De Paul was there, sprinting into the frame, chest out, eyes locked on the Polish striker.

He didn’t hesitate. He confronted Lewandowski directly, making it abundantly clear he would not let anyone bully his teammate. In that brief, chaotic moment, De Paul showed the same streak that has defined his career: run, fight, protect.

That scene also dragged him into a different kind of spotlight – not for a tackle or a pass, but for the life he has built around the game.

From Racing Club to MLS heavyweight

De Paul’s path to that heated confrontation in Miami has been long and lucrative. According to Celebrity Net Worth, the Argentine midfielder’s net worth is estimated at $25 million. It is not an official financial statement, but it reflects more than a decade of salaries, bonuses and endorsements earned across four countries: Argentina, Spain, Italy and now the United States.

The clearest snapshot of his current earning power sits in his Inter Miami deal. Figures published by the MLS Players Association list De Paul with a base salary of $7.57 million and approximately $9.69 million in guaranteed annual compensation for 2026. Only Lionel Messi and Son Heung-min earn more in MLS.

That status did not arrive overnight.

De Paul came through at Racing Club before earning a move to Valencia, where his European adventure began. His career truly took off in Italy, during five industrious seasons with Udinese. His performances there convinced Atlético Madrid to pay around €35 million for him in 2021, a fee that underlined his rising value.

Four years on, Inter Miami stepped in, paying roughly €14.5 million to bring him to MLS on a permanent basis. Those transfer fees flowed between clubs, not into his own account, but the escalation told its own story: every move strengthened his leverage to negotiate richer contracts.

Salary database Capology estimates that De Paul has collected close to $29.9 million in gross base salary across his career, not counting bonuses, endorsements or image rights. The real figure, once those are included, is almost certainly higher.

World champion, serial winner, relentless worker

De Paul’s financial story cannot be separated from his success with Argentina. FIFA awarded the Argentine federation $42 million for winning the 2022 World Cup, though it never revealed how much each player received. The same goes for the bonuses tied to Argentina’s Copa América triumphs in 2021 and 2024. Those numbers remain behind closed doors, making any precise calculation impossible.

What is clear is that his reputation soared with each trophy. While Lewandowski has piled up club honors – a Champions League title, multiple Bundesliga crowns and years as one of Europe’s most prolific scorers – he has never lifted a major trophy with Poland.

De Paul’s pride is built differently. He became the tireless foil to Messi, the midfielder who runs until his legs burn, snaps into duels, and shields the stars around him. Two Copa América titles and that 2022 World Cup cemented his identity as the player who does the dirty work and never steps away from a fight, whether it’s in Lusail or in a late-game scuffle in MLS.

Life off the pitch: family, fashion and ink

Behind the combative exterior is a family story that Argentina knows well. De Paul 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. At times, his private life has dominated headlines back home almost as much as his performances for club and country.

His European chapter lasted roughly 11 years, from his move to Valencia in 2014 through his spell at Atlético Madrid, ending only when he crossed the Atlantic to join Inter Miami in 2025. Those years did more than shape him as a player. Away from the pitch, he cultivated a strong interest in fashion and tattoos.

One piece of ink stands above the rest: the date of Argentina’s 2022 World Cup triumph, etched onto his neck. It is a permanent reminder of the peak of his career, the night he helped carry a nation to glory.

Now he brings that same edge and that same sense of duty to Miami. The money, the medals, the ink on his skin – they all tell part of the story. The rest you see in moments like that clash with Lewandowski: when a teammate is threatened, Rodrigo De Paul does not walk away.