Larga Lagoon is a small Argentine town with no more than 6,000 inhabitants. On the outskirts of the city passes a highway, on which Paulo Dybala's father once traveled 140 kilometers to take his son to the sports academy, located in the nearest town, Cordoba. Few countries in the world have the passion that Argentines have for football, as Dybala told CNN that "where it is born, the first thing they give is a ball". Like most kids in the country, he grew up dreaming of becoming a footballer. After his father, his extraordinary talent was noticed by the academy where he trained. Thus, Dybala became part of the Argentine national team, went to Juventus, played alongside Leo Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo, the two greatest footballers of his time. All of this is unimaginable.
"I've always dreamed of being a footballer, I've always loved this sport and being honest, I never thought I would achieve so many things," he told CNN. "I try to experience it every day, because it's unimaginable for a person who comes from a small town, where we're only 6,000 people and dreams seem unattainable."
In 2008, when Dybala was only 14 years old, his father passed away as a result of a battle with cancer. His loss affected Dybala because he was his biggest supporter. However, he managed to overcome the pain and bring back to life what he considers to be one of the most difficult periods of his life. "I do not know what would have happened if he had been here. Maybe all of this would have happened, maybe not. Maybe I would have lived differently. ?
At the age of 17, Dubala began his debut in Argentine clubs. Sports journalists described it as "La Joya" - a jewel - a nickname still in use. In just the second game, he broke the 41-year-old record of one of Argentina's most legendary strikers, Mario Kempes, becoming the youngest goal scorer in the academy where he trained.
Later, Dybala became part of Palermo through an agreement that reached the value of 14 million dollars to then go to Juventus. He has played for Manchester United and Paris Saint-Germain and is one of the few players in the world who has been fortunate enough to play alongside Ronaldo and Messi.
Dybala says he has learned a lot from Ronaldo about where he transferred to Juventus in 2018. He is probably the right man to answer the question: Messi or Ronaldo, who is better? "I see a big difference between the two, but I try not to compare them. I try to enjoy watching them play and learn from them. They are extraordinary, the best, which we will always remember and I am lucky to have the opportunity to talk to both of them.
Interesting facts:
1.Paulo Dybala had the opportunity to choose between Poland, Argentina and Italy for representation in the international arena. His grandfather was from Poland and went to Argentina during World War II. From her mother's family, Dybala is originally from Italy. He has also obtained Italian citizenship, but still chose Argentina because he feels that way.
2. Although raised in a country with many extraordinary footballers, his idol is neither Diego Maradona nor Lionel Messi, but the legend of Italian football - Andrea Pirlo.
3. Dybala celebrates goals in two ways. First by pointing fingers at the sky as a dedication to the father. Second, the most used is the celebration through "dybalamask". "Dybalamask is a gladiator mask," he says. "When we fight, we have to put on the mask of a fighter to be stronger."
Since 2018, he has been in a relationship with Argentine singer and actress Oriana Gabriela Sabatini.
Source: CNN, Sportsskeda
