Rodrigo De Paul was born on 24 May 1994 in Sarandí, Buenos Aires province, Argentina. He came through the youth setup of Racing Club before moving to Valencia in Spain in 2014, where inconsistent opportunities led to a loan spell back in Argentina at Udinese in Serie A. Udinese signed him permanently in 2016, and across five seasons in the Italian northeast he established himself as one of Serie A's most dynamic and creative midfielders.
In summer 2021 Atlético Madrid signed him for around €35 million, making him one of the most expensive Argentine midfield transfers of the period. At Atlético he was a key component of Diego Simeone's midfield engine, combining press-resistance, long-range passing, direct running and energy with the ball to make himself one of the most influential midfielders in La Liga. He won the 2020-21 La Liga title with Atlético in his first season.
His subsequent seasons at Atlético were marked by form fluctuations and a high-profile relationship with singer Tini Stoessel that attracted significant media attention in Argentina. In summer 2025 he moved to Inter Miami CF in Major League Soccer, following Lionel Messi — his close friend and international team-mate — to the United States. The move represented a significant financial step and a new chapter in his career.
For Argentina he debuted in 2018 and became one of the most important midfielders in the national team. He was described by Lionel Scaloni as the engine of the team, and his performances at the 2021 Copa América — which Argentina won — and the 2022 World Cup in Qatar were central to both successes. He covered enormous amounts of ground, connected play between defensive and offensive phases, and gave the national team the midfield dynamism that was essential to their historic results.
Standing 1.82 m, De Paul is a right-footed midfielder whose combination of energy, technical quality, pressing and ability to carry the ball at pace over medium distances defines his profile. He draws comparisons to a more physically imposing Claudio Marchisio in his ability to function equally in defensive and offensive midfield phases.