Paulo Dybala (Part 2)

On October 20, 2020, Dybala returned to action for Juventus in their Champions League opener, coming on as a second-half substitute in a 2–0 away victory over Dynamo Kyiv. He marked his first goal of the season on November 4 against Ferencváros during a 4–1 triumph in a Champions League group stage match.Before the commencement of the 2021–22 season, Dybala was appointed as the vice-captain of Juventus, signifying his importance within the team. However, on March 21, 2022, Juventus announced their decision not to renew Dybala's contract, which was set to expire in the summer. This decision was attributed to changes in the club's project following the arrival of striker Dušan Vlahović earlier that year.


Despite being sidelined due to injury for several months, Dybala made a significant impact upon his return to action. On April 7, 2021, he scored the winning goal in a 2–1 home victory over Napoli. Subsequently, on May 12, Dybala reached a milestone by scoring his 100th goal for Juventus in all competitions during a 3–1 away win over Sassuolo, becoming the first non-European player to achieve this feat.On May 15, 2022, Dybala confirmed via social media that he would be departing Juventus at the end of the season. His final home match for the club took place on May 16, 2022, against Lazio. Dybala received a standing ovation from the fans as he was substituted in the 78th minute, marking the end of his illustrious tenure with Juventus.


Due to his family background, Dybala was eligible to represent Poland and Italy internationally, but he expressed a strong attachment to his Argentine identity and always dreamed of representing Argentina. He stated, I feel 100 percent Argentinian, I wouldn't be happy in a national team that didn't feel like mine, to hear an anthem that isn't my own, in colours that don't belong to me.


Dybala received his first call-up for the Argentina senior team on September 22, 2015, under manager Gerardo Martino, but he made his debut on October 13, 2015, during a 2018 FIFA World Cup qualifying match against Paraguay, coming off the bench in the 75th minute.
Although he was omitted from Argentina's 23-man squad for the Copa América Centenario in May 2016, Dybala was initially included in the preliminary under-23 squad for the 2016 Summer Olympics in Rio de Janeiro, but he was not part of the final squad.


Dybala experienced his first World Cup tournament in 2018 in Russia, where he made his debut as a substitute against Croatia. Argentina was eliminated in the round of 16 by France.
His first senior international goal came in a friendly match against Mexico in November 2018.
Dybala played a significant role in the 2019 Copa América, assisting a goal against Qatar in the group stage and scoring a goal in the third-place match against Chile, helping Argentina secure the bronze medal.Dybala scored a goal against Italy in a 3–0 win at Wembley Stadium.
He was selected for Argentina's squad for the 2022 FIFA World Cup, where he made appearances in both the semi-final and final matches. In the final against France, he played a crucial defensive role and scored a penalty as Argentina emerged victorious, winning the World Cup.


Paulo Dybala is widely recognized as a quick, creative, and elegant player with exceptional technical ability and agility. Known for his powerful and accurate shots from outside the box, as well as his dribbling skills and close control in tight spaces, Dybala excels in one-on-one situations and is capable of beating opponents with ease. His ability to hold up the ball for teammates and contribute defensively off the ball highlights his hardworking nature and stamina.Dybala's versatility allows him to play in various offensive positions, including as a main striker, centre-forward, second striker, attacking midfielder, or wide playmaker. He is also adept at roaming freely in the final third of the pitch, creating chances for teammates or scoring goals himself. Despite his diminutive stature, Dybala is effective in the air and can anticipate defenders inside the box.


Comparisons have been drawn between Dybala and several prominent players, including Sergio Agüero, Javier Pastore, Carlos Tevez, Omar Sívori, Diego Maradona, and Lionel Messi. His playing style has also been likened to that of former Italian forwards Vincenzo Montella, Alessandro Del Piero, and Roberto Baggio.Despite his talent, Dybala has faced scrutiny regarding his mentality, consistency, and leadership qualities, as well as struggles with injuries throughout his career. His signature "mask" celebration serves as a message symbolizing resilience and determination, inspired by gladiators who wore masks to fight.
Overall, Dybala's combination of skill, versatility, and goal-scoring ability has established him as one of the most promising talents in world football.


Paulo Dybala obtained Italian citizenship on 13 August 2012 to ease his transfer to Palermo and navigate around regulations limiting the number of non-EU players in Serie A teams. Initially, he had explored the possibility of acquiring Polish citizenship through his grandfather's ancestry, but the process proved too intricate. In addition to his citizenship journey, Dybala is also known for his tattoos. He has two stripes on his left arm, an Arabic tattoo, and a crowned football inked on his leg. These tattoos likely hold personal significance to him, although the exact meanings behind them have not been widely discussed.

1. Technical Ability: Dybala possesses excellent technical skills, including dribbling, ball control, and passing accuracy. His close control in tight spaces allows him to maneuver past defenders effortlessly.
2. Shooting: He is known for his powerful and accurate shots from outside the box. Dybala's ability to strike the ball with precision makes him a threat from long range.
3. Speed and Agility: Dybala is quick and agile, enabling him to make sharp turns and quick changes of direction. His agility allows him to navigate through congested areas of the field with ease.
4. Versatility: Dybala is a versatile forward capable of playing in various attacking positions. He has excelled as a striker, winger, attacking midfielder, and false 9 throughout his career.
5. Offensive Threat: Whether creating chances for teammates or scoring goals himself, Dybala's vision, passing, and goal-scoring instincts make him a constant threat in the final third.
6. Defensive Contribution: Despite being an attacking player, Dyb

References

1.  "FIFA World Cup Russia 2018: List of Players: Argentina" (PDF). FIFA. 15 July 2018. p. 1. Archived from the original (PDF) on 11 June 2019.
2. ^ "13 fun facts about Paulo Dybala".
3. ^ "The top 15 best dribblers in the world of football right now 2023". 16 February 2023.
4. ^ "FIFA Rating".
5. ^ Marcos Villalobo (10 October 2011). "Los maestros de la 'joya'" [The "Jewel's" teachers] (in Spanish). La Mañana Cordoba. Archived from the original on 30 December 2012. Retrieved 1 June 2015.
6. ^ Nick Dorrington (13 September 2016). "The Cordoba Connection: Dybala faces Vazquez, Vietto in Champions League". ESPN FC. Retrieved 12 January 2017.
7. a b "DYBALA: "Metà polacco e metà italiano, spiego"". MediaGol.it (in Italian). 29 November 2014. Retrieved 12 January 2017.
8. ^ "Paulo Dybala – "nowy Messi" z polskimi korzeniami" (in Polish). Sport.onet. Archived from the original on 5 April 2012.
9. ^ Martin Mazur (17 January 2019). "Paulo Dybala: How the Argentine 'Gladiator' went from rough diamond to Juventus 'jewel'". BBC Sport. Retrieved 18 January 2019.
10. a b Gaby (24 December 2015). "DYBALA: 'NO ITALIAN FEELING'". football-italia.net.
11. ^ "Scatta raduno rosanero: 25 convocati, assente giustificato Dybala" (in Italian). Il Corriere del Mezzogiorno. 12 July 2012. Retrieved 12 January 2017.
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13. ^ "La Joya está bien" (in Spanish). Olè. 2 April 2012. Retrieved 1 July 2012.