Rodrigo De Paul: The Fighter Behind Inter Miami's Star
The shove came late, but it lit the fuse.
Inter Miami’s 1-1 draw with the Chicago Fire was drifting toward a routine finish when tempers snapped. Robert Lewandowski and Ian Fray tangled, exchanged pushes, and suddenly the match turned raw. From nowhere, Rodrigo De Paul sprinted into the frame, chest out, eyes locked on the Polish striker, making it very clear he would not let anyone bully his teammate.
It was a flash of the same fierce loyalty he shows for Lionel Messi with Argentina. This time, the stage was MLS, but the reaction was pure De Paul: confront, protect, stand his ground.
From Racing to Miami: how De Paul built his fortune
That brief confrontation also dragged the spotlight back onto a player whose career has quietly turned into a financial success story.
De Paul’s net worth is estimated at $25 million, according to Celebrity Net Worth. It is not an official balance sheet, but it reflects more than a decade of salaries, bonuses and commercial deals spread across four countries: Argentina, Spain, Italy and now the United States.
His current contract at Inter Miami offers the clearest window into his earnings power. Figures published by the MLS Players Association list De Paul with a base salary of $7.57 million and roughly $9.69 million in guaranteed annual compensation in 2026. Only two players in the league earn more: Lionel Messi and Son Heung-min. That places the Argentine as the third-highest-paid player in MLS.
This level was not reached in a single leap.
De Paul came through at Racing Club in Argentina before earning his move to Valencia in 2014. His time in Spain stuttered, but he rebuilt his reputation during five seasons with Udinese, where his all-action style turned him into one of Serie A’s most reliable midfielders. Atlético Madrid then stepped in, paying around €35 million to sign him in 2021. Four years later, Inter Miami invested approximately €14.5 million to bring him to MLS on a permanent deal.
Those transfer fees landed in club accounts, not his own, but the rising numbers tracked his growing market value and strengthened his hand every time he sat down to negotiate a new contract.
Capology estimates that De Paul has earned close to $29.9 million in gross base salary over his career, not counting bonuses, endorsement deals or image rights. The real total will be significantly higher, especially when international success is factored in.
With Argentina, De Paul has lifted two Copa América titles (2021 and 2024) and the 2022 World Cup. FIFA paid the Argentine federation $42 million for winning that World Cup, though it never revealed how much each player received. The same goes for his Copa América bonuses. No verified figures exist, which makes it impossible to calculate precisely how much those trophies added to his bank account.
Different paths, different prizes
De Paul’s pride is rooted elsewhere. He became the tireless engine next to Messi, the midfielder who runs, presses, tackles and absorbs the dirty work so the stars can shine. That role has delivered him the game’s biggest international prize and turned him into one of the best-paid players outside Europe.
The incident with Lewandowski in Chicago simply underlined what Argentina fans have known for years: De Paul is wired to fight for those around him.
Life off the pitch
Away from the chaos of matchdays, De Paul’s story is anchored in family. 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, his private life has at times generated almost as many headlines as his performances for club and country.
His European chapter stretched for about 11 years, from his move to Valencia in 2014 until his departure from Atlético Madrid to Inter Miami in 2025. During that time, he cultivated a strong interest in fashion and body art. The most striking example sits on his neck: the date of Argentina’s 2022 World Cup triumph, etched into his skin as a permanent reminder of the night that defined his career.
Now, in Miami, he earns like a superstar, plays alongside Messi again and still reacts on instinct when a teammate is shoved. The money tells one story. The way he charged at Lewandowski told another: the fortune never dulled the fighter.
