Rodrigo De Paul

Hottest athlete · place 3

Named by 1 outlet

as of 2026-10-21

Rodrigo De Paul is an Argentine midfielder who now orchestrates play for Inter Miami and the national team, and the media spotlight has followed him from European leagues to Major League Soccer. Variety named him hot, reflecting a profile that blends technical quality with the kind of on-field moments that travel far beyond the pitch.

ESPN reported that De Paul scored a striking goal for Inter Miami and dedicated it to the Messi family, while ESPN Deportes highlighted a Messi assist that set up another De Paul finish against New York City. MARCA covered the same goal and asked whether it merited Puskás Award consideration, and ESPN Colombia noted a heated exchange between De Paul and Lewandowski during the Chicago Fire match. MARCA also reported that De Paul faced criticism in Argentina for remarks perceived as belittling Lewandowski’s career, and that a special request from De Paul concerning Messi’s final international appearance drew attention.

The combination of creative midfield play, high-profile link-ups with Messi, and flashpoints that spark debate keeps De Paul in the conversation. Wikipedia page views reflect sustained public interest, and the steady stream of highlight-reel goals and headline-making incidents ensures the attention remains fixed on what he does next.

Hot means most looked-up and most named by the media, not a judgement of anyone. How we rate