Late Love for Soccer: Paul Arriola’s Roots & How He Made It Big

Paul Arriola’s journey in American soccer is one filled with unexpected twists, resilience, and personal growth. Born to Arturo and Dawn Arriola, Paul’s story is not your typical path of a boy who dreamed of one things from day one: to become a professional soccer player. In fact, his love for soccer was purely recreational in his early years, with no grand ambitions for a professional career. However, life had different plans, and Paul’s late-blooming passion for the sport eventually saw him rise through the ranks to become one of the most recognizable names in US Soccer.

Beyond his rise to fame, there are lesser-known aspects of Paul Arriola’s story that many fans may not be aware of. For instance, while he proudly represents the United States on the soccer field, his roots trace back to Mexico. His great-grandparents were Mexican immigrants who moved to the US, establishing a multicultural heritage that plays a significant part in Paul’s identity.

This biography delves deep into Paul Arriola’s life, from his humble beginnings and the discovery of his passion for soccer to the cultural influences that have shaped him. We’ll explore his family background, his journey to professional football, and how he overcame the odds to become a star. Now, let’s dive into the fascinating tale of Paul Arriola, a man whose love for soccer took him further than he ever imagined.

Preamble:

Paul Arriola’s story goes far beyond his impressive skills on the soccer field. His biography provides a complete picture of his life, detailing not just his athletic prowess but also his family, early life, and upbringing. We’ll explore his childhood, growing up with his parents, Arturo and Dawn Arriola, and his brother, Artie. The narrative also touches on his personality and his love story with Akela Banuelos.

To spark your interest, we’ve compiled a photo gallery that captures Paul’s journey from a cute young boy to a renowned soccer star. His path to fame is a testament to his growth and dedication.

Yes, we all know that he’s got a dominating presence on the right wing. Despite his specialty, we’ve noticed that many fans haven’t read his Life Story, which is quite interesting. Without further ado, let’s begin.

Paul Arriola Childhood Story:

For Biography starters, his full name is Paul Joseph Arriola. He was born to his father, Arturo Arriola, and mother, Dawn Arriola, on the 5th of February 1995 in Chula Vista, California, United States.

The winger is the eldest of two sons born of the union between his parents (Arturo and Dawn Arriola), pictured below. From the look of things, he has taken after his mother’s sense of humor.

Growing Up Days:

Paul Arriola was raised alongside his younger brother in Chula Vista. His hometown is a short ride away from Mexico. Being born in a town known for its love for soccer, the young lad quickly developed an interest in the game.

Despite his passion for football, Arriola didn’t yet possess the qualities to thrive and succeed in the game. He was even more exceptional in baseball than in other sports.

Many members of his family believed he would grow up to become a fine baseball player. Little did they know that the path selected by his destiny was far-fetched from their imaginations.

It’s quite surprising that the winger didn’t even dream of pursuing a career in football while growing up. Of course, we can easily relate to his motives, seeing that he couldn’t outperform his peers in street games. Hence, Arriola was not motivated to consider success in the game.

Paul Arriola Family Background:

Judging by his behavior, we could easily tell that the American athlete hails from a humble abode. His home was usually lively and thrived like every other middle-class family in their community.

Apparently, Arriola cherished every moment he spent with his entire family. He respects the fact that his late father had to work as a delivery man to provide for the entire household.

Of course, his parents couldn’t afford expensive toys, but that didn’t restrain Arriola and his brother Artie from enjoying their childhood. Moreover, their grandparents lived with them and spiced up their days with many refreshing bedtime stories.

Paul Arriola Family Origin:

As stated earlier, the American national hails from Chula Vista – the seventh-largest city in Southern California. Interestingly, his birth town is famous for its coastal landscape, canyons, rolling hills, and quality parks.

Thanks to the outstanding public schools in Arriola’s place of origin, non-wealthy folks could afford a good education. Chula Vista means “beautiful view”. No wonder it has attracted many tourists over the years.

Guess what?… Paul Arriola’s birth town is named one of the top safest cities in the United States. Below is a map that gives a visual glimpse of the athlete’s place of origin.

Paul Arriola’s Ethnicity:

Although he was born and raised in the United States, the speedster is associated with more than one heritage. Arriola’s Ethnicity consists of both American and Mexican family roots.

On his maternal side, he is purely American. On the other hand, his paternal ancestry is of Mexican roots. Actually, Arriola’s great-grandparents were born in Mexico and eventually moved to the US.

Thanks to their nationality, the speedster could obtain a Mexican passport and pursue a career in professional football. In a nutshell, his family roots have contributed to the foundations of his career expedition.

Paul Arriola Education:

One peculiar characteristic of the upcoming athlete was his absolute love for his studies. He was the kind of student who worked hard to maintain good grades. Arriola studied at Mater Dei Catholic High School in Chula Vista.

It was in high school that he finally took football seriously. He was so good at the game that he made it to the regional team in a short time. Of course, he soon desired to excel in soccer and worked hard to improve his talents by all means.

Despite the activities that unfolded in his sports endeavors, Arriola still paid attention to his studies. He even attended iHigh Virtual Academy in San Diego after his days at Mater Dei Catholic High School.

Paul Arriola Biography – Football Story:

The career expedition of the young lad started when he was six years old. Back then, Arriola played soccer with his friends every day. However, he never had the dream of pursuing a career path in sports.

At the age of 10, he started training with the Chula Vista Rangers. During this period, Arriola met a very good friend (Lopez) who inspired him to train daily. However, he still didn’t have the conviction that soccer was his calling.

Interestingly, Paul Arriola was invited to the U-17 USMNT residency program in his sophomore year. The program only accommodated the 40 best soccer players in the US youth pool.

Paul Arriola Early Career Life:

At that time, the young lad was only 15 and had an introverted personality. It was quite difficult for him to get used to the new environment. Moreover, he was far from his parents and had to blend in with new people.

Of course, Arriola had no option but to endure the entire situation. He wanted to succeed at all costs and didn’t want to give up the rare opportunity. Nonetheless, he described that year as one of the worst years of his life.

Despite all the challenges he faced, Arriola enjoyed the outcome of joining the program. He was always on the C team but ended up making it to the U-17 World Cup qualifying roster. At first, he didn’t play for even a single minute.

However, a few of the selected players listed ahead of him began dropping out for one reason after another. The next thing he knew, he was on the plane to Mexico to represent his country in the 2011 U-17 World Cup.

Taking The Biggest Decision of His Life:

During the tournament, Arriola started three out of four games. He was overwhelmed with joy, as he knew his parents and brother were actively supporting him from the sideline.

Upon his return from the World Cup and residency program, the fifteen-year-old had a few weeks to reflect on his experience. He returned to school and continued his junior year of high school. However, Arriola could readily tell that school wasn’t his calling.

Moreover, he felt left behind in training as he had to be in class from 8 am to 3 pm daily. It wasn’t a sacrifice Arriola was ready to make. Hence, he made up his mind to focus absolutely on football. From that very day, there was no going back for the winger.

Road to Fame Story:

While making a name for himself in California, many Mexican teams kept track of his improvements. At the same time, Arriola frequently visited the LA Galaxy Academy for training sessions.

It wasn’t too long before he received an invitation to train with Tijuana, a club in Mexico. Thanks to his great grandparents’ heritage, he easily obtained a Mexican passport that made it easy for him to commute to and fro.

Luck was smiling on Paul Arriola and his family as many clubs came begging for his signature. He was offered his first professional contract by the LA Galaxy and Tijuana (where he was training then).

Signing his First Professional Contract:

Being quite young, Arriola relied on his father, Arturo Arriola, and a few senior players to help him make the right decision.

Back then, the LA Galaxy seemed like the perfect place for him to join. But he discovered that some of their staff didn’t think he was ready to play with the senior squad.

Hence, the 17-year-old boy signed for Tijuana, a club that competed in Liga MX. He started on the U-20 team and soon won the heart of his coach. It took Arriola only a few months to be promoted to the first-team squad.

To continue spending time with his family, the youngster didn’t move into a new apartment closer to his club. As a result, he had to travel over 18 miles daily to Tijuana for his sports endeavors.

In July 2013, Arriola made his professional league debut as a second-half substitute. His start was phenomenal, as he made an assist only four minutes after entering the match. The winger made 80 appearances and scored four goals for Tijuana during his four-year spell with the team.

Paul Arriola Biography – Success Story:

The speed dribbler saw his biggest breakthrough in 2017 as DC United of the MLS signed him for a club-record fee of $3 million. It didn’t take too long before he established himself as an armory in the arsenal of his new club.

Thanks to his smooth playing style, Arriola was able to hold his ground at both the right midfield and right back positions. His exceptional prowess allowed him to transition from defensive play to offensive plays with little worries.

Of course, Paul Arriola’s talent earned him many call-ups on international duties. He has been a regular on the US senior squad since 2016.

But he would have to improve his game if he intends to be in the United States starting lineup in the 2022 FIFA World Cup ahead of Yunus Musah (CM), Brenden Aaronson (AM), or Sergino Dest.

Arriola’s Sad Injury:

The superstar has been in great form at DC United since he joined the club. However, his career expedition was interrupted by a severe injury, which he picked up during a pre-season game in 2020.

It was revealed that Arriola’s injury was a partially torn ACL that might keep him out of the entire season. Even in the dark days of his career, the speed dribbler still got a contract extension from his club.

After recovering from injury, Arriola was sent on loan to the premier league side, Swansea City.

He only spent one month at the club and played in the FA Cup competition before sustaining a quadricep injury that sidelined him for over 4–6 weeks.

Do you know?… While at Swansea City, Arriola posted an offensive and discriminatory tweet in 2012. Although not much attention was given to the tweet, it resurfaced a decade later. Hence, the winger apologized for tweeting such offensive statements in 2022.

Upon his return to DC United, the winger was sold to FC Dallas on the 26th of January, 2022. Of course, he’s not yet done with unleashing the unseen potential of his soccer prowess. The rest, as they say, is history.

Love Life with Akela Banuelos

The American sportsman has also given his relationship life due attention. As a result, many fans are constantly in search of his girlfriend’s identity. Yes, Arriola is the direct opposite of Timothy Weah in terms of dating experience.

More so, he does not intend to keep details about his relationship private.

Arriola has flooded his Instagram account with photos of his partner, Akela Banuelos. It appears that the couple began dating in the early months of 2018.

They were first close friends and eventually developed feelings for each other. Since they began dating, Arriola and his girlfriend remained steadfast in their relationship. They went on dates, had dinners together, saw movies at cinemas, and even took vacations in beautiful cities.

The Athlete’s Proposal:

After four years of dating, Paul Arriola was convinced he wanted to spend the rest of his life with Akela Banuelos. Hence, he proposed to her on the 5th of February 2022 at a beautifully decorated scene.

As expected, Akela was very excited and said yes to the athlete. She then took to her Instagram to share photos and videos about her engagement. In the euphoria of the moment, Arriola’s fiancee wrote:

I want to relive this day forever!! Also, I wanted to thank everyone who celebrated us on our special day!!

And to those who reached out and sent us the sweetest messages and gifts, we are grateful.

Who is Akela Banuelos, Paul Arriola’s Wife?

The footballer’s fiancee was born on the 21st of March 1995 in Los Angeles, California. As a little girl, Akela picked interest in taking care of pet animals, especially dogs. She eventually became an animal advocate when she grew up.

After going through rigorous academic activities, Arriola’s fiancee received a Veterinary Medicine degree in 2017. With her expertise, she got a job with the Veterinary Healthcare Center in Monterey Park.

More so, Akela got to promote a medical apparel company (Jaanuu) on social media. Aside from her medical expertise, she seems to be an experienced model. The reason is that she appeared at Long Beach’s Miss Toyota Grand Prix held in March 2018.

Personal Life:

Who is Paul Arriola, away from football?

The dribbler described himself as a shy and introverted individual. Of course, he is the kind of person that often minds his business and would rather act than talk. Like Kellyn Acosta, Arriola had difficulty opening up to his teammates when he first hit camp.

I didn’t open up too much nor try to connect with people there (at the U-17 USMNT residency program).

It was tough, being just 15 years and living with forty other guys.

For him, talking was a hassle he tried to avoid at all costs. Nevertheless, the outcome of going to the residency program was the best that Arriola could have hoped for. As he grew older, he developed a habit of bonding with people and became quite a cheerful lad.

Thanks to his current optimistic personality, the winger has amassed quite a handful of supporters who love him for who he is. Many fans believed he changed the energy around FC Dallas and composed a nice song in his honor.

Paul Arriola Lifestyle:

The American player has amassed enormous wealth through football. Also, he loves to live a luxurious lifestyle. Like Tyler Adams, he’s got an eye for exotic cars. One of Arriola’s famous rides is a white Tesla, which he often uses for most of his outings.

Aside from buying expensive cars, the athlete also bought a mansion that would give him and his fiancee comfort. Although he doesn’t share much information about his luxury home, we’ve seen a glimpse of its incredible interior design.

Paul Arriola Family:

One of the secrets to the speed dribbler’s success was growing up in a household that made him believe in his potential. Of course, Arriola would have probably lost his motivation to work hard without the intervention of his parents and relatives.

Hence, his Biography would remain incomplete without mentioning the people who stood with him from the early days of his career. With no further delay, let’s begin with his dad.

About Paul Arriola’s Father:

The energetic athlete’s dad is Arturo Arriola III. He was born in 1970 and grew up as a hardworking man. Arturo was dedicated to providing for his family and worked as a beer delivery man.

Sadly, his occupation got the best of him, and he became addicted to alcohol. As his drinking habit worsened, Arriola and the rest of his family feared the worst might happen to Arturo.

Apparently, the athlete’s paternal great-grandfather was also an alcohol addict who died of cirrhosis of the liver.

Hence, Arriola had every reason to fear that his dad might suffer the same fate. He urged his father to quit drinking and got him into several rehab programs.

How Alcohol Destroyed Arturo Arriola’s Life:

Despite being a hardworking husband, things didn’t seem to work out well in Arturo’s marriage. Of course, he was usually the cool and friendly man anyone could be when he wasn’t drunk. But when he consumes alcohol, it becomes an entirely different story.

As Arturo’s drinking habit worsened, his wife couldn’t endure the entire drama anymore. Hence, the couple got divorced and went on with their lives. Paul stayed with dad and tried to save him from the impending danger alcohol posed to his life.

His efforts were not effective, as his father died on the 10th of October 2018. Although the death certificate states that the cause of death was a heart attack, Paul believes it was his father’s too much alcohol intake that killed him.

While reminiscing about his dad’s personality, the winger recalls that Arturo was always cool, cheerful, and humble. He was the type that would rather keep his problem to himself than share it with anyone else.

About Paul Arriola’s Mother:

The winger’s mom is Dawn Arriola. She has consistently supported him since the beginning of his soccer expedition. While in college, Dawn started a relationship that soon led to marriage with her late ex-husband.

She and Arriola’s dad tied the knot as husband and wife in May 1994. However, their marriage didn’t last, as they got separated a few years later. Dawn Arriola was an educated woman who had an interest in teaching.

While paving her way through college, she worked as a Bagger and a clerk, as well as did other menial jobs she could find. Dawn studied hard at the National University to gain a bachelor’s degree in Special Education and Teaching.

With her qualifications, she secured a job at Sweetwater Union High School, where she has worked as a Special Education Teacher since May 2008. The athlete’s mom returned to her alma mater, where she bagged a master’s degree in Special Education and Teaching in 2021.

About Paul Arriola’s Siblings:

The winger isn’t the only child in his family. Yes, Arriola has a younger brother whose name is Artie. He is the youngest of the siblings and was born in 2002. Hence, Artie is seven years younger than his big brother.

Arriola’s sibling is also an athlete. Surprisingly, he has taken a different path from the soccer star. Apparently, Artie loves lacrosse, a game he has been playing since his days at Hilltop Senior High School.

Upon reaching college, Arriola’s brother picked an interest in photography. Now, he works as a freelance photographer. Only the future knows what it holds in stock for the youngest of the Arriola family.

About Paul Arriola’s Grandparents:

Another horrible incident that struck the dribbler’s household was the death of his grandfather. Arriola’s grandpa fought pancreatic cancer until he drew his last breath. Although it was a tragic ordeal, the sickness showed how strong-willed he was in his lifetime.

While he was still around, the old man spent much time with his grandson. He was credited with being the bedrock that helped Arriola become a professional player.

Subsequently, Arriola often dedicated his goals to his grandfather and grandmother. Aside from his grandparents, there is no information about Arriola’s uncles, aunts, or other relatives.

Untold Facts:

In the final section of Paul Arriola’s Biography, we’ll tell some interesting facts you probably didn’t know about him. Without further delay, let’s begin.

Paul Arriola Salary Breakdown:

The Team of the March Day winner has seen a huge financial breakthrough thanks to his athletic endeavors. He earns an annual base salary of $1.1 million, slightly below what Jesus Ferreira receives at FC Dallas. The table below is a breakdown of Paul Arriola’s earnings as of October 2022.

How rich is Paul Arriola?

Do you know?… The median salary for workers in the US (2022 stats) is $54,132 per year. This implies an average citizen would have to work for 20 years to make what Paul Arriola earns in a year.

Paul Arriola FIFA:

One of the major setbacks we’ve seen in his stats is the poor ratings on his offensive abilities. As a result, Arriola will have to work hard to improve his attacking skills. Of course, his movements and stamina make him a formidable player on the pitch.

However, there’s still room for him to step up his finishes and crossing skills. Even though Arriola’s FIFA stats suggest that he’s reached the peak of his potential, we believe he can still exceed his limits and strive to become as exceptional as Malik Tillman and Christian Pulisic.

Paul Arriola Pet:

Interestingly, the talented speedster and his girlfriend have two pugs. For clarity’s sake, a pug is a dog breed with physically distinctive features of a short-muzzled, wrinkly face and curled tail. Its origin is traced to China.

As expected, Arriola and Akela Banuelos take good care of their pets. They’ve often taken lovely photos with their dogs and uploaded them on social media. Take a look at their cute pets in the picture below.

Paul Arriola Religion:

Of course, the winger is a devoted Christian. Aside from growing up in a religious home, Arriola attended a Catholic school. Both his family and educational background has played a huge role in helping him nurture his Christian fate.

EndNote:

Paul Joseph Arriola was born on the 5th of February 1995 to his dad, Arturo Arriola, and mom, Dawn Arriola, in Chula Vista, California, United States. He is the eldest of two children born to his parents.

He grew up in Chula Vista, which is not far from Mexico. Arriola became passionate about football from a very young age. He often played the game with his kid brother and other neighborhood friends.

Nonetheless, Arriola was unsure if he could make it to the professional leagues. His mindset changed when he entered the U-17 USMNT residency program.

Subsequently, the youngster featured for the US in the U17 World Cup, a feat that brought joy to his parents and brother. With hard work and consistency, Paul Arriola became a successful professional sportsman.

He and Jesus Ferreira dealt a huge blow to Grenada during a CONCACAF Nations League match in June 2022. Thanks to their unparalleled performance, they have cemented their place in the US 2022 World Cup squad.

Arriola didn’t rob himself of the satisfaction of delving into a relationship. He is madly in love with his girlfriend, Akela Banuelos. The couple is already engaged and will soon tie the knot as husband and wife.

Appreciation Note:

Thank you for reading our version of Paul Arriola’s Biography. We care about accuracy and fairness while working hard to deliver interesting American soccer stories.

Aside from Paul Arriola’s Bio, we’ve got other US Soccer Players’ Stories that’ll interest you. Have you read the Life History of Kellyn Acosta, Seattle Sounders FC Legend Jordan Morris, and Josh Sargent?

Kindly contact us via comments if you find anything that doesn’t look right in the winger’s bio. Also, share with us what you think about the career expedition of the FC Dallas superstar.