Being the youngest athlete ever to be signed by the biggest sportswear company globally, at 11 years old, Nike says to me that Rodrygo Goes is going to become one of the best players in the future, if not the best.
Following in the footsteps of former legends of Santos, Pele, and Neymar , Rodrygo has raised the bar even further by joining one of the world’s biggest clubs, Real Madrid, at the tender age of 18.
As a result, hope and expectations for the Brazilian international are incredibly high. And I have full faith in the Sao Paolo native that he can become the best in the coming years.
That is in the future, and no one can predict the future last time I checked.
So, instead of wasting valuable time on what Rodrygo might become in the future, I will tell you about the journey of the 20-year-old from his Santos youth days to his present time at the Los Blancos.
But first, let’s get warmed up with some quick facts.
Quick Facts
| Full Name | Rodrygo Silva de Goes |
| Birth Date | 9 January 2001 |
| Birth Place | Osasco, Brazil |
| Nick Name | Not available |
| Religion | Christian |
| Nationality | Brazilian |
| Ethnicity | Not Available |
| Education | Not Available |
| Horoscope | Capricon |
| Father’s Name | Eric Batista de Goes |
| Mother’s Name | Denise Goes |
| Siblings | Ana Julya |
| Age | 21 years old |
| Height | 5’9″ (1.74 m) |
| Weight | Not available |
| Shoe Size | Not available |
| Hair Color | Black |
| Eye Color | Brown |
| Body Measurement | Not available |
| Build | Lean |
| Married | No |
| Girlfriend | None |
| Spouse | None |
| Position | Winger |
| Profession | Football Player |
| Net Worth | €10 million |
| Clubs | Real Madrid (Current), Santos (Former) |
| Jersey Number | 27 |
| Social Media | Instagram, Twitter, Facebook |
| Shoes | Nike |
| Last Update | May, 2022 |
Rodrygo: Early life & Career
Rodrygo was born in the industrial town of Osasco, which lies in the state of Sao Paolo. Goes’s parents were still in their teens when they had him. Therefore, life was a bit tough for the couple in the beginning.
Following impressive performances for Santos’s youth side, the Real Madrid winger was promoted to the reserve team, where Goes would continue his development.
Eventually, Rodrygo would go on to make his professional debut for his youth club, Santos, continuing in Pele and Neymar‘s footsteps.
Rodrygo: Career & Stats
It might seem like Rodrygo has played at the highest level for several years, but that is not the case. Instead, the Brazilian international only made his professional debut in 2017 with Santos, the former legends club-like Neymar and Pele, among others.
However, in his debut season with Santos, Goes could only manage two appearances throughout the season. Contrarily, the Brazilian winger exploded onto the scene in his second season.
To illustrate, the then 17-year-old appeared in 58 matches for Santos scoring 12 goals and assisting a further five times.
By the time Real Madrid swooped in and signed the young prodigy, Rodrygo amassed a total of 80 appearances and scored 17 goals.
But it was not just his goals that caught the eye of Los Blancos. Instead, Goes’ gameplay and maturity beyond his years prompted Real Madrid to sign the Santos winger.
Real Madrid
The footballing world was sent into shock on 15 June 2018 when Real Madrid signed Rodrygo for an eye-watering €45 million from Santos. As per the contract, he will remain with the club until 2025.
Consequently, many observers doubted Goes’ ability mainly because he has had only one full season with Santos.
Also, the Real Madrid winger is only 20 years old, which further intensifies the scrutiny of the price the Los Blancos paid for the youngster.
However, Rodrygo did manage to justify his massive price tag somewhat as Goes scored a perfect hat-trick against Galatasaray in the UEFA Champions League in a 6-0 win.
In doing so, the then 18-year-old became the first player born in the 21st century to score in the tournament.
As of now, Rodrygo has played in 21 matches for the Los Blancos, including the B-team scoring nine times and assisting a further two times.
Not too shabby for a 20-year-old in his first season with one of the biggest clubs in the whole world. In conclusion, I have no doubts whatsoever that will be in the reckoning for the Ballon D’or award in just a few years.
International Career
The 20-year-old winger made his first appearance for the Brazil U-17s in the Montaigu Tournament, following his impressive performances for the Santos Reserve side.
At this tournament, the Real Madrid winger managed to showcase his raw talent to the whole world.
To illustrate, Rodrygo scored on his debut for the side in a 2-1 loss to Denmark. He scored two more against the United States and Cameroon, taking his tally to three for the competition.
However, his senior team’s debut came in the most prominent footballing rivalry on the international stage, Brazil vs. Argentina.
To explain, Goes came on in the 70th minute to replace Chelsea’s attacker, Willian. Although Brazil lost the match 1-0, Rodrygo managed to show some flashes of brilliance.
Currently, he has made two appearances for the senior side. But, judging by the talent and potential Goes has, no one will be surprised if he goes on to make another 98 appearances for the Selecaos.
Career Achievements
Real Madrid
2019-20 Supercopa de Espana
Individual
2018 Campeonato Paulista Best Newcomer
How old is Rodrygo? Height & Position
At the time of writing, Rodrygo is only 20 years old. However, that did not deter Real Madrid from paying an astonishing €45 million for his services. And the 20-year-old is looking like he is worth the money Real spent on him.
What position is Rodrygo?
The Brazilian international stands at 5 feet 9 inches, which is the average height for a tricky and pacy winger like him.
In addition, the Real Madrid winger is only 20 years old, which tells us that he still has room for development in terms of his body.
To date, Rodrygo has played for several positions like right, left, and center forward. Additionally, he has also played as a right, left, and center attacking midfielder too.
Apparently, he has showcased himself as a versatile player, however, he is more comfortable playing out from the left side of the attack.
In conclusion, Rodrygo still has a lot to improve in terms of both gameplay and physical attributes.
However, judging by his current form and confidence, I have full faith in the flying winger to become one of the best players in the next five years.
At just 20 years of age, Rodrygo is already the third highest-paid teenager in the world. According to his contract with Real Madrid, Goes will earn a staggering €85,000 per week or €4.5 million per year just on salaries.
However, Rodrygo has been earning a considerable sum of money since he was 11 years old.
It is because American sportswear giant Nike signed the then 11-year-old to an endorsement deal. To illustrate, even the great Neymar had to wait until he was 13 before Nike came calling.
As a result, he still holds the record for being the youngest player ever to have a sponsorship deal with Nike. As per various reports, the Brazilian is earning over $2 million from his contract with Nike.
Furthermore, the winger’s net worth is currently valued at €10 million, which is an extraordinary amount for a grown-up, let alone a teenager.
Considering the amount of money Rodrygo is earning at Real Madrid, Los Blancos definitely sees him as a future superstar.
