Dybala made his senior debut for Argentina in 2015 at the age of 21. He has made 40 appearances and represented Argentina at the2018 FIFA World Cup, the2019 Copa América, and the2022 FIFA World Cup, winning the latter title.
Nicknamed "La Joya"[12] or "El pibe de la pensión",[13] Dybala made his professional debut in thePrimera B Nacional (Argentine second division) with his hometown clubInstituto Atlético Central Córdoba at age 17. In total, he played 40 matches with the club, scoring 17 goals.[14][15] He was the youngest to score a goal, beating the record ofMario Kempes. Dybala was also the first to play 38 consecutive matches in a professional league in the country (again edging Kempes), and was also the first to score two hat-tricks in a season. Dybala also scored in six consecutive games, surpassing the previous record of four matches.[16]
On 29 April 2012,US Città di Palermo presidentMaurizio Zamparini announced the signing of Dybala stating, "We have got Paulo Dybala – the newSergio Agüero."[17] Later the same day, however, Instituto's general secretary José Teaux stated that the man who had completed the negotiations with Palermo did not have the mandate to sell Dybala. Nonetheless, on 20 July 2012 Palermo released a press announcement confirming the signing of Dybala, who signed a four-year deal with the Sicilian club.[18] According to the financial filing of the club, the transfer fee was €8.64 million.[19]
Dybala made his debut for the club in aSerie A match againstLazio. He scored his first and second goal in Italy on 11 November 2012 when Palermo defeatedSampdoria at home, 2–0.[20] Dybala had his breakthrough season in the2014–15 Serie A where he scored ten goals in the first half of the season, forming a successful striking partnership with fellow Argentine–ItalianFranco Vázquez and being linked with several top European clubs.[21] He finished the season with 13 goals and 10 assists, which made him one of the top assist providers in the league.[22]
On 4 June 2015,Juventus announced the signing of Dybala on a five-year deal for a fee of €32 million (plus €8 million in add-ons).[23][24] He was assigned the number 21 shirt, previously worn byAndrea Pirlo, who left the club that summer.[25] On 8 August, he came on as a 61st-minute substitute forKingsley Coman against Lazio in the2015 Supercoppa Italiana. He scored the second goal in the 73rd minute in a 2–0 win inShanghai.[26] On 30 August 2015, Dybala scored his first league goal for the club in the 87th minute in a 2–1 defeat toRoma.[27] In his first 16 appearances of the season, Dybala managed six goals and two assists in all competitions, with a ratio of a goal every 151 minutes, which was superior toCarlos Tevez's andAlessandro Del Piero's goalscoring ratios in their debut seasons with Juventus. In the club's history, onlyRoberto Baggio maintained a superior goalscoring record in the opening games of his debut season.[28]
Dybala scored his first careerCoppa Italia goal in a 4–0 win overcross-city rivalsTorino on 16 December.[29] On 23 February 2016, Dybala scored his firstUEFA Champions League goal in a 2–2 home draw toBayern Munich in Juventus' first round of 16 leg.[30] On 15 March, it was announced Dybala would miss the second round of 16 leg of the Champions League against Bayern on 16 March due to an edema overload of his leftsoleus muscle.[31] He returned to action four days later in a 4–1 away win over Torino,[32] but was substituted after sustaining yet another injury.[33] On 21 April, Dybala scored two goals in a 3–0 home win over Lazio, which took his league tally to 16 goals in 31 appearances and also saw him score his 20th goal of the season in all competitions in the process.[34] He finished the season as Juventus' top scorer with 23 goals in all competitions and 19 goals in Serie A, as the club celebrated their Serie A title victory.[35][36]
Following the departure ofPaul Pogba toManchester United in the summer of 2016, Dybala was offered thenumber 10 jersey by Juventus, although he turned it down, preferring to keep the number 21 jersey that he had worn during his previous season.[37] Following managerMassimiliano Allegri's switch to a4–2–3–1 formation, the2016–17 season saw Dybala operate in a deeper playmaking role behind the club's new signingGonzalo Higuaín, which saw a decrease in his goalscoring output as he took on increasing defensive and creative duties.[38][39][40] After struggling to score at the beginning of the season, Dybala scored his first goal of the 2016–17 campaign on 27 September, in a 4–0 away win overDinamo Zagreb in theChampions League.[41] He scored his firstSerie A goal of the season that weekend, on 2 October, in a 3–0 away win overEmpoli.[42]
On 11 April, Dybala scored two goals in Juventus's first-leg Champions League quarter-final fixture against Barcelona, helping the club to a 3–0 home victory.[43] On 13 April 2017, Dybala renewed his contract with Juventus until 2022.[44] On 3 June, Dybala started in the2017 Champions League final, but Juventus were defeated 4–1 by defending championsReal Madrid, missing out on the treble.[45]
On 4 August 2017, Dybala was named one of the three finalists for the Forward of the 2016–17 UEFA Champions League season award.[46] On 9 August, Dybala was confirmed to wear the number 10 shirt for Juventus.[47] On 13 August he scored two goals in a 3–2 defeat to Lazio in the2017 Supercoppa Italiana.[48] On 15 August, Dybala placed sixth in the2017 UEFA Best Player of the Year Award.[49] On 26 August, Dybala scored his first hat-trick in Serie A in a 4–2 away win overGenoa.[50] He repeated the feat on 17 September, in his 100th appearance for Juventus, scoring all three goals, including one free-kick, in the club's 3–1 away win overSassuolo, marking his second hat-trick in Serie A.[51] On 11 March 2018, Dybala scored a brace in a 2–0 home win overUdinese in Serie A; his first goal of the match was also his 100th career goal.[52] He made his 150th appearance in Serie A in a 0–0 away draw againstSPAL, on 17 March.[53]
On 1 September 2018, Dybala made his 100th Serie A appearance for Juventus, coming on as a late second-half substitute in a 2–1 away win overParma.[54][55] On 2 October, Dybala scored ahat-trick in a 3–0 home win overYoung Boys in theChampions League.[56] In Juventus's following Champions League group match on 23 October, Dybala scored the only goal of the game in a 1–0 away win overManchester United.[57] With the arrival ofCristiano Ronaldo, Dybala was often deployed out of position in a deeper role by manager Allegri during the 2018–19 season; as a result of this positional switch, as well as struggles with injuries, and difficulties with his manager, Dybala suffered a loss of form, and his goalscoring output decreased significantly, as he managed to score only five goals in 30 league matches, and 10 goals across 42 appearances in all competitions. However, Juventus managed to retain the Serie A title.[58][59]
Following a disappointing 2018–19 campaign, Dybala was initially linked with a move toPremier League sideTottenham Hotspur, although he ultimately remained with Juventus for the 2019–20 season.[58][59][60] Although he was initially not expected to start under the club's new managerMaurizio Sarri, he eventually broke into the first XI and scored his first goal of the season on 6 October 2019, in a 2–1 away win overrivalsInter, to help his side overtake theNerazzurri at the top of the Serie A table.[60][61] On 7 December, he made his 200th appearance for Juventus in a 3–1 away defeat to Lazio in Serie A.[62]
In the2020 Coppa Italia final againstNapoli on 17 June, following a 0–0 draw after regulation time, Dybala missed Juventus's first spot-kick in the resulting shoot-out, with his shot being saved byAlex Meret; Napoli ultimately won the match 4–2 on penalties.[63] At the end of the season, Dybala was awarded theSerie A MVP award for the2019–20 season.[64] He finished the campaign with 11 goals and 6 assists, helping Juventus win their 9th consecutive title.[65]
On 20 October 2020, Dybala made his first appearance of the new season in Juventus's openingChampions League game, coming on as a second–half substitute in a 2–0 away win overDynamo Kyiv.[66] Dybala scored his first goal of the season on 4 November againstFerencváros in a 4–1 win during a Champions League group stage match.[67]
Prior to the start of the2021–22 season, he was namedvice-captain of the team.[68] On 21 March 2022, Juventus chief executive officerMaurizio Arrivabene announced that the club had decided not to renew Dybala's contract which would expire in the summer, citing changes in the club's project following the arrival of strikerDušan Vlahović earlier that year.[69] After being sidelined for months due to injury,[70] Dybala made his return on 7 April 2021, scoring the winning goal of a 2–1 home win over Napoli.[71] On 12 May, he scored a goal in a 3–1 away win over Sassuolo, to reach his 100th goal for Juventus in all competitions, hence he became the first non-European player in doing so.[72][73] On 15 May 2022, Dybala announced on social media that he would leave Juventus at the end of the season.[74] Dybala played his finalhome match for Juventus on 16 May 2022 against Lazio, being substituted byMartin Palumbo in the 78th minute, for which he received a standing ovation.[75]
On 20 July 2022, Dybala signed forRoma on a three-year contract that runs until 30 June 2025.[76][77] On 14 August, he made his debut for the club in a 1–0 away win againstSalernitana in the Serie A.[78] On 31 May, he scored the first goal of the2023 UEFA Europa League final, which Roma eventually lost on penalties toSevilla.[79]
On 26 February 2024, he scored his firsthat-trick for the club, in a 3–2 home win againstTorino in Serie A.[80] On 18 April, he scored his 50th goal for the club in a 2–1 home win againstAC Milan in the2023–24 UEFA Europa League quarter-finals, which saw Roma advance to the semi-finals of the competition.[81] Following rumours linking him with a move to theSaudi Pro League, Dybala remained at Roma for the final year of his contract, with media outlets labeling him "central" to managerDaniele de Rossi's project.[82][83]
In January 2025, an automatic extension clause in his contract was activated, allowing him stay with the club until 30 June 2026 on his reported base salary of €8 million per year.[84]
Due to his family heritage, Dybala was eligible to play forPoland andItaly, but expressly stated that he feels Argentine and had always dreamed of playing forArgentina.[85] Dybala stated "I feel 100 percent Argentinian, I wouldn't be happy in a national team that didn't feel like mine, to hear an anthem that isn't my own, in colours that don't belong to me".[9]
On 22 September 2015, Dybala was called for the first time for the Argentina senior team by managerGerardo Martino,[86] but his first appearance was on 13 October 2015, coming off the bench to replace Carlos Tevez in the 75th minute during a2018 FIFA World Cup qualifying match againstParaguay.[87] In May 2016, he was omitted from Argentina's 23-man squad for theCopa América Centenario.[88] Although Juventus insisted that they would not release Dybala for the2016 Summer Olympics inRio de Janeiro, he was included in Martino's 35-man preliminaryunder-23 squad for the tournament on 24 May,[89] but left out of the final tournament squad.[90]
On 1 September 2016, Dybala was sent off in the first half of a 1–0 home victory againstUruguay in a 2018 World Cup qualification for a second bookable offence.[91] On 13 June 2017, he set up a goal forJoaquín Correa in a 6–0 away friendly victory againstSingapore.[92]
Dybala playing for Argentina in 2017
In May 2018, Dybala was named in Argentina's preliminary 35-mansquad for the2018 FIFA World Cup in Russia;[93] later that month, he was included inJorge Sampaoli's final 23-man squad for the tournament.[94] He made his World Cup debut in Argentina's second group match on 21 June, coming on as a second-half substitute forEnzo Pérez in the 68th minute of an eventual 3–0 defeat toCroatia.[95] This was his only appearance in the tournament, as Argentina were eliminated in the round of 16 on 30 June, following a 4–3 defeat toFrance.[96][97] Later that year, Dybala scored his first senior international goal on 20 November, in a 2–0 friendly home victory againstMexico.[98]
In May 2019, Dybala was included in Argentina managerLionel Scaloni's preliminary 40-man squad for the2019 Copa América.[99] Later that month, he was included in the final 23-man squad for the tournament.[100] In Argentina's final group match againstQatar on 23 June, Dybala assisted Agüero's goal in a 2–0 win after coming off the bench forLautaro Martínez, which enabled them to advance to the knock-out stages of the competition.[101] In the third-place match againstChile on 6 July, Dybala made his first start of the tournament, and scored Argentina's second goal in an eventual 2–1 win, to help his team capture the bronze medal.[102]
He was included in the final 26-man squad for the2022 FIFA World Cup by Lionel Scaloni.[104] On 13 December, he made his first appearance against Croatia, replacingJulián Álvarez, in a 3–0 semi-final victory.[105] Five days later, in the final, he substitutedNicolás Tagliafico right before the penalty shoot-out as the match ended 3–3 at extra-time. He made a late defensive clearance in his team's defensive area, and scored the second penalty in the shoot-out as his team eventually defeated France 4–2 to win the World Cup.[106]
An elegant player,[108][109][110][111][112][113] Dybala is known for his powerful and accurate strikes, his creativity, and hisdribbling,[113][114][115] as he can beat opponents in one-on-one situations or beat multiple opponents.[115] Due to his elite dribbling, he excels at counter-attacks[115] and at beating the offside trap when making attacking runs.[116][117] He is also renowned for his stamina and defensive work-rate.[115][118] He is also capable of creating chances for his teammates due to his vision and his accurate passing.[116][117][118][119] Despite his diminutive stature, Dybala is also effective at scoring headers due to his ability to anticipate defenders’ movements.[113][115][120]
After scoring a goal, Dybala is known for using his signature "mask"celebration; regarding the celebration, he commented: "My mask gesture isn't so much a goal celebration but rather a message. It's an ideal mask, which gladiators wore to fight. In Doha against Milan, after we lost Supercoppa, the idea of this celebration was born."[146]
Dybala obtained Italian citizenship on 13 August 2012,[147] in order to facilitate his move toPalermo[148] and circumventFIGC regulations that allow only two non-EU players in aSerie A team.[149] Dybala initially attempted to obtain Polish citizenship through ancestry from his grandfather but the bureaucracy was too complex.[148]
Dybala has several tattoos on his body: two stripes on his left arm, an Arabic tattoo, and a crowned football on his leg.[150]
Since 2018, Dybala has been in a relationship withOriana Sabatini,[151] who is the daughter of the Venezuelan actressCatherine Fulop and Osvaldo Sabatini, and the niece of legendary Argentinian tennis champion,Gabriela Sabatini. On 20 July 2024, the two were married.[152][153] The couple announced they were expecting their first child on 30 September 2025.
^"Paulo Dybala player 2" (in Spanish). Instituto Atletico Central Cordoba. 1 August 2012. Archived fromthe original on 15 September 2011. Retrieved23 October 2011.
^"DYBALA HA FIRMATO" [DYBALA SIGNED] (in Italian). US Città di Palermo. 20 July 2012. Archived fromthe original on 22 July 2012. Retrieved20 July 2012.
^U.S. Città di Palermo S.p.A.bilancio (financial report and accounts) on 30 June 2013, PDF purchased from ItalianC.C.I.A.A. (in Italian)
^Ivan Zazzaroni (14 December 2015)."Paulo Dybala come il "primo" Roberto Baggio" [Paulo Dybala like the "first" Roberto Baggio] (in Italian). Sport Notizie 24. Archived fromthe original on 22 December 2015. Retrieved15 December 2015.
.jpg)
.jpg)
_38_-_Paulo_Dybala_(cropped).jpg)
