Paulo Dybala, affectionately known as “La Joya” (The Jewel), is the son of Adolfo and Alicia de Dybala. His journey transcends the confines of football, marked by a prophecy made even before his birth—one that foretold he would grow up to be a great footballer. This prophecy came from his father, a hardworking middle-class man who dedicated himself to nurturing Paulo’s talent, never missing a single day of taking him to training.
Passion and Pain: The Life of Paulo Dybala
Tragically, when Paulo was just 15 years old, cancer claimed his father’s life, leaving a profound void that fueled Paulo’s relentless pursuit of greatness. The pain of that loss became a driving force in his life and career, propelling him to excel on the field.
This article delves into the untold chapters of Paulo Dybala’s life, tracing his family’s roots back to Krasniow, Poland, and highlighting the experiences that shaped him into the remarkable footballer he is today. Without further ado, let’s embark on this journey through the life of Paulo Dybala.
Paulo Dybala Childhood Story – Early Life and Family Background:
This is Paulo Dybala in his Childhood.
To kick off the biography, Paulo Dybala was born Paulo Bruno Exequiel Dybala on November 15, 1993, in Laguna Larga, Córdoba, Argentina. He is the son of Adolfo Dybala and Mrs. Alicia de Dybala. Córdoba is also home to other notable Argentines, including Nahuel Molina and Cristian Romero.
Paulo Dybala was born into a middle-class family, and his arrival came with a unique story. Before he was even born, it was prophesied that he would become a footballer, marking him as a child of destiny from the very start.
This prophecy was made by his father, Adolfo Dybala. In his words, before the birth of his three sons, he said…
“One of my sons would be born someday with one mission. To play football”.
Paulo Dybala was born to fulfil this prophecy. He was born as the last child and baby of the house. Dybala’s destiny was shaped when he made the decision to play football at a very tender age.
Upon observing his destiny, Adolfo never relented. He would use his last money to buy gas for his car in order to drive him to the training ground on a daily basis.
Paulo Dybala and father, Adolfo Dybala.
He invested so much in Paulo not because he wanted prophecy fulfilment but because he saw his determination to succeed.
Paulo Dybala recalls that his father never missed a single day of taking him to training. As a young boy, he was deeply passionate about his playing time. Whenever he felt he didn’t get enough time on the field or failed to show his skills, he would go home, lock himself in the bathroom, and cry out of frustration.
The Loss of Adolfo
Dybala owed his father one thing. Fulfilling his prophecy and making him enjoy and see the fruit of his labour.
Unfortunately, the latter never happened, as his father passed away at a time when he needed him the most. He still grieves his dad to date.
The pain of losing his father has become Paulo Dybala’s driving force in his relentless pursuit of greatness, fueling his determination to conquer the biggest teams and become one of the world’s best footballers.
Dybala’s father, Adolfo, had a dream for his son that he never got to witness come true. In September 2008, when Paulo was just 15 years old, cancer took his father’s life too soon, leaving a lasting impact on the young footballer.
Paulo Dybala Family Life:
Paulo Dybala’s father, the late Adolfo Dybala, had family roots traced back to the village of Krasniow, Poland. While the family is now based in Argentina, their Polish heritage comes from Paulo’s grandfather, Boreslaw Dybala, who was born near Kielce, Poland. During World War II, when the Nazis occupied his home village, Boreslaw fled to Argentina, where the family eventually settled.
Paulo’s heritage isn’t only Polish—his family also has Italian roots. His maternal grandmother, Da Messa, comes from the Province of Naples, adding a rich Italian influence to his background.
Paulo officially got his Italian citizenship on 13 August 2012. He is eligible to play for the Polish, Italian, and Argentine national soccer teams. Paulo Dybala and his mother, Mrs Alicia de Dybala, are very close.
As a saying puts it, there has never been, nor will there ever be, anything quite so special as the love between a mother and a son. This is the case between the two.
Paulo Dybala and Mother, Alicia de.
Gustavo is the eldest brother of Paulo Dybala. He once tried football but didn’t make it.
Paulo Dybala’s eldest brother, Gustavo Dybala.
Gustavo Dybala, Paulo’s eldest brother, stepped away from football early on after realizing it wasn’t his true calling. He now runs his own business in Buenos Aires, Argentina.
Mariano Dybala, Paulo’s immediate older brother, never shared the same passion for football. Instead, he found his love in gymnastics. Mariano currently competes in the lower divisions of gymnastics in La Plata, Argentina.
Dybala and Immediate elder brother, Mariano Dybala.
It was Paulo, the little one, who broke it.
Love Life:
Before Oriana Sabatini entered the picture as Paulo Dybala’s wife, he was previously in a relationship with Antonella Cavalieri.
The Paulo Dybala Love Story.
Her man may steal all the flashes on the field, but it’s her who gets all the attention. Miss Cavalieri, who goes by ‘Anto’ short for Antonella, rose to fame for her relationship with the famous soccer star, and since then, gaining a huge following on social media.
Antonella Cavalieri and her lover celebrate a title.
Before gaining fame on social media due to her relationship with Paulo Dybala, she worked part-time as a restaurant hostess.
The Argentine beauty has over 280K followers on Instagram alone. The lovebirds have been dating for years. They became boyfriend and girlfriend in late 2015.
Antonella Cavalieri currently has a degree in business administration from the Universidad de Palermo in Buenos Aires. She is blessed with good genes, which also makes her the model she is today.
Their relationship, as observed by many, is said to be a serious one. Antonella has, over the years, proven to be very supportive of her guy.
She hardly ever misses one of Dybala’s games, and she often posts and shares many photos when cheering on him. Most recently, there is a view of her making the Gladiator goal celebration move.
The Untold Tales of the Dybala Mask Celebration.
She mastered his trademark celebration gesture and the Dybala’s mask immediately after their relationship began. Will Antonella Cavalieri be the only one for Dybala? Only time will tell.
Celebrating with Rihanna:
Dybala is a star in his own right thanks to his couple of performances on the big stage. He has once basked in the glow of Rihanna’s supernova, and he looks more than happy to just be there in her presence.
Paulo Dybala showed Rihanna (who is a huge fan of Didier Drogba and Karim Benzema) some birthday love, and he got a passionate response from her.
The Argentine striker posted a picture with musical goddess Rihanna for her 29th birthday, and he couldn’t look much happier to be there.
Rihanna snuggled up nice and tight with Dybala as he held up his own signed shirt, and the Argentine golden child looked like he was in his own personal heaven.
Just look at his face. He’s floating on a cloud and must be feeling some love.
Rihanna’s brother, Rorrey, is a known Juventus supporter, but there’s no confirmed word on Rihanna’s football loyalties. Regardless, it doesn’t seem like Dybala is too concerned about where her allegiances lie.
Gladiator Movie Freek:
Starting off, Paulo Dybala, like Japhet Tanganga, is a lover of the Gladiator movie, to the point that he sees himself watching it over and over (more than 30 times).
There are two reasons why he loves the movie.
First are Maximus’ words when he unveiled his true identity to all. These words ascribe a different meaning to his life.
The famous quote goes as follows:
“My name is Maximus Decimus Meridius. I am the commander of the Armies of the North, General of the Great Felix Legions, and a true loyal servant to the Emperor Marcus Aurelius. I am the father of a murdered son and the husband of a murdered wife. I will have my vengeance, whether in this life or the next.”
Paulo Dybala has shaped it to mean…
“My name is Paulo Bruno Exequiel Dybala, the La Joya (Golden Child) of World Football, ..the slayer of FC Barcelona.
The boy whose father once prophesied to be a great footballer. I am destined to be the greatest attacking midfielder of all time.”
The film also taught him the crucial value of teamwork, a lesson he applies on the football field today. Reflecting on General Maximus’ words from the Gladiator movie,
“Whatever comes out of these big gates, we have a better chance of survival if we work together.”
Paulo Dybala approaches every crucial match with this mindset, particularly during games against the formidable FC Barcelona duo of Andreas Iniesta and Luis Suárez. This belief in teamwork, inspired by Gladiator, is a key reason why he decided to join Juventus, the Old Lady.
Reason for the Mask Celebration:
Dybala became known for his unique gesture of making a mask with his thumb and index finger after scoring goals. He once took to social media, challenging his followers to uncover the meaning behind the gesture, with the reward of a signed jersey for those who guessed correctly.
He eventually revealed the meaning behind his celebration, which he dubbed the “Dybala Mask.” In a video uploaded on his Facebook account, Paulo explained that the gesture symbolizes the mask of a gladiator. He stated,
“The Dybala Mask is really simple: it represents the mask of a gladiator! When we face challenges, we sometimes need to put on our warrior mask to stay strong while still keeping our smile and kindness.”
Paulo Dybala Idol:
Dybala has long harboured the desire to play alongside Juan Román Riquelme. Growing up, he watched and learned from the Argentine attacking midfielder, appreciating his exceptional combination of passing, vision, technical skills, and goalscoring prowess.
According to Dybala,
“Riquelme was born the eldest of 11 children in a poor family, and his bravery propelled him to greatness. He has always been my choice for the best attacking midfielder in world football. Riquelme won the Argentina Footballer of the Year award four times, matching the legendary Diego Maradona‘s record. He also captained the Argentine team to victory, leading the South American team to win the Olympic gold medal in 2008.”
Paulo Dybala Biography Facts – Career in Summary:
Paulo Dybala Biography Facts – Career in Summary
Before turning professional, Paulo Dybala played in various small leagues during his school and college years. His big break came in 2010 when he signed with the Argentinian club Primera B Nacional at just 17 years old.
Playing as a striker, he had an impressive debut season, scoring 17 goals. His remarkable performances soon caught the attention of coaches across Argentina and even some clubs in Europe. By 2012, he was approached by the Italian club Palermo, marking the next step in his career.
Recognizing an opportunity to enhance his skills, Dybala joined Palermo in 2012. He made an immediate impact in the game, scoring two goals in just his fourth match with the club. His tactical awareness and skill set played a crucial role in helping Palermo maintain a position in the top half of the league standings.
During this period, his performances drew the attention of various European clubs, eager to capitalize on his potential as a standout player at such a young age.
He was regarded as the new Messi as he is from the same country as the little magician. Paulo Dybala remained with Palermo for three years, during which he became a prominent figure in the team.
European Dream:
In 2015, amidst widespread transfer speculation linking him to every major club in the world, he made the move to Italian giants Juventus.
This transfer represented a pivotal moment in his career, as he became part of one of the most prestigious clubs in football.
Dybala’s decision was significantly influenced by his desire to remain in Italy, and with Juventus being the top club in the country, it became a clear choice for him. Despite being linked to Real Madrid, who were willing to pay Palermo around $50 million for his services, Dybala ultimately chose to stay in Italy.
Following Paul Pogba‘s departure from Juventus, Dybala was offered the iconic number 10 shirt that had been worn by the midfielder. However, he decided to keep his number 21 jersey, a choice that reflected his personal preference. The rest of his journey in football is now part of history.
Paulo Dybala Tattoo Meaning:
What does Dybala Tattoo mean?
The decision to get a tattoo—something that will remain on your body for life—is significant, and Paulo Dybala approached it with careful consideration. One of his most meaningful tattoos is the Arabic inscription on the left side of his ribs, next to his heart, which spells out his mother Alice’s name. He got this tattoo on December 25, 2013.
In an interview with an Argentine magazine, Dybala was asked about the armband tattoo on the back of his left arm. He explained, “I chose it because I liked it. A teammate had the same tattoo, and I appreciated its aesthetic. It resembles the bracelets worn by ancient Roman warriors, but I got it purely for its look rather than any deeper significance.”
Additionally, he has a tattoo of a football crowned on the inside of his left leg, which he had done in Córdoba by a tattoo artist named Noel.
Paulo Dybala Religion:
Paulo Dybala, the Argentine second striker, identifies as a Roman Catholic, aligning himself with the predominant religion in his country. Raised in a household deeply rooted in Catholic traditions, Dybala embraces his faith but prefers not to express it as openly as some other players, such as Virgil van Dijk and Trevoh Chalobah.
Why he plays with Socks Down:
Many people perceive Paulo Dybala as embodying the lazy and awkward style often associated with footballers who wear their socks low. Beyond being labelled as a slayer of FC Barcelona, he has become the latest poster boy for this trend among his generation.
This raises an interesting question: Why does Paulo Dybala wear such small shin pads? The most common explanation is that he believes it gives him a competitive edge, or “superpowers.”
Several of the world’s best footballers have also sported low socks, including legends like Rui Costa, Francesco Totti, and Thomas Müller.
Aside from giving him superpowers, it has also given him the ability to not age. Paulo Dybala still looks like a 17-year-old kid. He will still look the same age if he continues keeping those socks low.
Rankings:
We’ve compiled our rankings for the Argentine superstar. Discover the statistics of this football legend, who many believe deserves to wear Leo Messi’s iconic No. 10 shirt for Argentina! Each time the GOAT faces an injury-related absence from international matches, the spotlight shines even brighter on him.
Thank you for taking the time to read our version of Paulo Dybala’s bio. Our team strive to give you the Biography of South American Footballers. The life stories of Mauro Icardi and Marcos Acuna would interest you.
