Rúben Dias was born on 14 May 1997 in Amadora, in the Lisbon District of Portugal. He joined Benfica's youth academy in 2008 and worked his way through the ranks, making his professional debut with Benfica B in September 2015. He was promoted to the first team in September 2017 and quickly established himself, earning the Primeira Liga's Young Player of the Year award at the end of that debut season. He went on to win the league title with Benfica in 2018–19, making over 100 appearances for the club before his departure.
Manchester City signed Dias in September 2020 for a reported fee of around €68 million. His impact was immediate: in his first season he helped City win the Premier League and EFL Cup while reaching the UEFA Champions League final, and he was named FWA Footballer of the Year, Premier League Player of the Season, and Manchester City Player of the Season. In 2022–23, he was a key figure as City completed a historic continental treble, winning the Premier League, FA Cup, and UEFA Champions League.
A physically strong, composed centre-back with good passing range from both feet, Dias is effective both in the air and in one-on-one defensive situations. He remains a central part of Pep Guardiola's defensive setup at Manchester City, signing a new four-year contract in August 2025.
Dias made his senior international debut for Portugal in May 2018 and has since earned over 50 caps. He was part of the squad at the 2018 and 2022 FIFA World Cups and UEFA Euro 2020 and 2024, and won the UEFA Nations League with Portugal in both 2019 and 2025.