Paulo Dybala
Age: 22
Club: Juventus
Nationality: Argentinian
Position: Forward
When Paulo Dybala moves up the pitch, the Gods pay attention. The one they call “La Joya,” or “The Jewel,” has been known to make show stopping runs, and clinical finishes. After three years with Palmero, the Argentinian found himself on new turf, this time at Juventus, the Old Lady of world football. Where others may have slithered back into the shadows, Dybala thrived, establishing himself as the goal scorer the Italian super club needed.
In his first 32 league games with the club, Dybala has notched 16 goals. A total that becomes even more stunning when you take into account the extra pressure he adopted when choosing his number. Dybala, never one to shy away from the spotlight, arrived to the club during the summer of 2015, and picked number 21, previously owned by club legend, and football royalty, Andrea Pirlo.
While Dybala has only played in 3 matches for his country, it’s not to early to call him the torch bearer for the next generation of Argentinian forwards. Much like Lionel Messi shone the light for Paulo, so too has Paulo for those who will follow him. Using his speedy advances, and top class dribbling, you can expect to see Dybala on the world stage for years to come.
How to cite this article: “The Young Guns” Written by Shaker Samman (2016), Copa America Centenario 2016 Guide, Soccer Politics Blog, Duke University, http://sites.duke.edu/wcwp/tournament-guides/copa-america-centenario-2016-guide/the-young-guns/ (accessed on (date)).
