10 fun facts about Paulo Dybala

Paulo Exequiel Dybala, born on November 15, 1993, is an Argentine professional footballer known for his skills as an attacking midfielder or winger. He currently plays for Serie A club Roma and the Argentina national team.

Dybala, also known as “La Joya” (“The Jewel”), started his senior club career in 2011 with Instituto de Córdoba, then moved to Palermo in 2012, where he secured a Serie B title. In 2015, he transferred to Juventus, winning numerous league titles and Coppas Italia.

Dybala was named Serie A Most Valuable Player during Juventus’ record 9th Serie A title win and has been part of the Serie A Team of the Year four times. He is currently the ninth-highest goalscorer in Juventus’ history.

Dybala joined Roma in 2022. On the international stage, Dybala made his debut for Argentina in 2015 and has represented his country in over 30 matches, including the 2018 FIFA World Cup, 2019 Copa América, and 2022 World Cup, where he clinched the championship. Check out some fun facts about him below.

1. Polish and Italian bloodline

Dybala comes from the town of Laguna Largai in the Cordoba region of Argentina. Although he was born in Argentina, his ancestry includes Italian and Polish roots. His Polish heritage can be traced back to his grandfather, while his maternal grandmother, who hailed from Naples, contributed to his Italian lineage.

2. Football breakthrough

Hailing from Laguna Larga, Argentina, Paulo Exequiel Dybala entered the world on 15 November 1993. At the tender age of 18, this football prodigy embarked on his professional career with Instituto Atletico Central Cordoba. It didn’t take long for his exceptional talent to catch the attention of Palermo, who swiftly brought him to Italy in 2012.

3. Thriving in Palermo

In his tenure at Palermo, Dybala participated in a total of 93 matches across various competitions, managing to find the back of the net 21 times. However, it was during the 2013-14 season, the second year of his stay, that he played a pivotal role in Palermo’s triumph in Serie B, securing their return to the top-flight of Italian football.

The subsequent season proved to be a turning point for Dybala, as he donned the No. 9 jersey and played alongside talented individuals like Franco Vazquez and Emerson Palmieri. In 34 Serie A matches, Dybala showcased his prowess by scoring 13 goals and providing 10 assists. This remarkable performance elevated him to a whole new level of recognition.

4. Meaning behind his nicknames

Upon Dybala’s arrival in Italy to join Palermo, he was greeted at the airport by Franco Marchione, one of the club’s drivers. Little did Marchione know that he would be the one to bestow upon Dybala the nickname ‘U picciriddu’ (which roughly translates to ‘the little boy’ in Sicilian dialect).

Another nickname that swiftly became associated with Dybala was ‘La Joya’ (‘The Jewel’) – a moniker that has gained significant recognition in the football world. Dybala explained, “It was an Argentinian journalist who came up with it, because when I was very young they said that a lot of Italian clubs wanted to sign me and so my value was very high – a bit like a diamond.”

5. Iconic trademark celebration

In addition to his exceptional talent, the Argentine player has successfully trademarked a distinctive celebration. Whenever Dybala scores a goal, he adopts a unique gesture by placing his hands over his face, specifically below the nose, covering his mouth and chin.

This iconic move is famously referred to as the ‘Dybalamask’. But what is the reason behind it? Quite simply, Dybala claims that he is imitating the mask worn by a Gladiator.

6. Broke record in Juventus

During his time at the Old Lady, Dybala had an illustrious career spanning seven seasons, earning him the status of a legend and a beloved figure among the fans. He showcased his exceptional skills by netting an impressive tally of 115 goals for Juventus, a feat that places him on par with Roberto Baggio as one of the club’s greatest goalscorers of all time (currently sharing the ninth spot).

7. Fifth highest scoring Argentine in Serie A

Paulo Dybala has established himself as one of the top Argentine goal scorers in Serie A history, currently ranking fifth with an impressive tally of 105 goals. His name is mentioned alongside legendary players such as Gabriel Batistuta, Hernan Crespo, Gonzalo Higuain, and Mauro Icardi. Remarkably, Dybala is only one goal away from matching Icardi’s position on the list.

8. Honours

In the summer of 2015, Dybala became a part of Juventus. It didn’t take long for him to make an impact as he scored his first goal at the Stadio Olimpico in a 2-1 loss to Roma, alongside goals from Miralem Pjanic and Edin Dzeko.

Throughout his time with the Bianconeri, Dybala achieved great success, winning Serie A five times, securing four Coppa Italia victories, and triumphing in the Italian Supercup three times. His dedication to the club is evident in his 293 appearances.

9. Ninth player born in 1993

Dybala becomes the latest addition to the list of players born in 1993 who have played for Roma. Preceding him, these eight players made their first appearance for the club in the following order: Gianluca Caprari, Giammario Piscitella, Nico Lopez, Juan Manuel Iturbe, Lucas Digne, Antonio Rudiger, Leonardo Spinazzola, and Jordan Veretout.

10. Animal enthusiast

Dybala is an avid animal lover, particularly when it comes to dogs. He is the proud owner of three adorable canines. One of them is a charming Shiba Inu named Kaia, while the other goes by the name Bowen. In May 2020, Dybala’s compassionate nature led him to adopt a delightful little dog, whose name remains a mystery for now.