Biography
Who is Ricardo Rodriguez?
Early life and background
Ricardo Ivan Rodriguez Araya was born in Zurich, Switzerland, on August 25, 1992. He began playing football as a child at a local club called FC Schwamendingen in 2001. A year later, he entered the youth setup for FC Zürich. He spent eight years developing his skills within that organization before moving into the senior ranks. By 2009, he had been promoted to the senior squad at age 16.
His professional debut occurred on March 21, 2010, during a Swiss Super League match against Bellinzona. He replaced an injured teammate during the first half of that victory. Shortly after, he played his first full match in a derby against Grasshoppers. He remained with the club until 2012, eventually being named the Fans' Player of the Season for his contributions before transferring to Germany.
Success with Wolfsburg
In January 2012, Ricardo Rodriguez joined the Bundesliga club VfL Wolfsburg on a four-and-a-half-year contract. The transfer fee was reported at 7.5 million pounds. He quickly secured a spot in the starting lineup and became a regular presence on the left side of the defense. During the 2013-14 campaign, he contributed five league goals and nine assists. This performance led to his inclusion in a list of top defenders for that season.
The following year proved highly successful for both the player and his team. Ricardo helped Wolfsburg win the DFB-Pokal in 2015 after defeating Borussia Dortmund in the final. He also played in the victory over Bayern Munich during the 2015 DFL-Supercup. In January 2015, he signed a contract extension keeping him with the German side until 2019. During his time in Germany, he played over 180 games across all competitions and scored 22 goals.
Italian career and beyond
Ricardo signed with AC Milan in June 2017 on a four-year deal. He made his debut for the club in a Europa League qualification match against CS U Craiova, where he scored a free kick. He spent three seasons in Milan before moving to Torino in 2020. He remained with the Torino squad for four years, providing defensive stability in the Serie A.
After his time in Italy, he joined the Spanish team Real Betis in 2024. During his tenure there, he assisted the team in reaching their first European final in club history. Throughout his career, he has also maintained a consistent presence with the Swiss national team. He won the FIFA U17 World Cup in 2009 and has appeared in multiple World Cup and European Championship tournaments as a senior international. He has earned over 140 caps representing his home country on the global stage.
Birthday and age
Ricardo Rodriguez was born on August 25, 1992, which makes Ricardo 34 years old today. That birthday falls under the Virgo sign. Ricardo shares the date with 66 other famous people.
Explore more
