Ángel Correa

Ángel Correa is an Argentine professional footballer who plays as a forward or right winger for River Plate and the Argentina national team. His career has been defined by resilience, from a childhood of extreme poverty in Rosario to becoming a World Cup winner and a fan favorite at Atlético Madrid over a decade. Known for his dribbling, vision, and versatility in attack, Correa has won major honors including La Liga, the UEFA Europa League, the Copa América, and the FIFA World Cup. As of 2026, he wears the number 10 shirt for River Plate, bringing his experience back to Argentine football. At 1.71 m, he is right-footed and has made over 400 appearances across all competitions for club and country. [edit]

Correa grew up in Rosario, Argentina, one of ten siblings. His father died when he was 10, leaving his mother to raise the family alone. They often ate only once a day. Correa sold roses with his mother and went door-to-door asking for food with his grandmother to survive. At 12, after losing both his father and a brother, he moved to Buenos Aires by himself, living in a boarding house while training with San Lorenzo's youth academy. Any per diem he earned he sent home to his mother. He made his senior debut for San Lorenzo at 18 in 2012, quickly establishing himself as a promising forward. In a 2025 interview, he recalled: "We didn't have enough to eat. We were 10 siblings, then when my dad passed away, I was 10 years old, my mom was left alone and we ate once a day, if we ate." His formal education was limited due to his early move to Buenos Aires. [edit]

In 2014, Correa helped San Lorenzo win the Copa Libertadores, then earned a move to Atlético Madrid for about £6 million. But a routine medical revealed a heart tumor, requiring surgery that delayed his debut until 2015. The operation was successful, and he went on to make 335 appearances for Atlético over ten seasons, scoring 68 goals and winning the UEFA Europa League (2018), UEFA Super Cup (2018), and La Liga (2021). Internationally, he captained Argentina's U20 side to the South American Championship title in 2015, winning Player of the Tournament. He later won the Copa América in 2021 and the FIFA World Cup in 2022 with the senior team. After a short stint with Tigres UANL in Mexico, where he made 41 appearances and scored 16 goals, he returned to Argentina to join River Plate in 2026, wearing the number 10. As of the 2026 Liga Profesional Clausura, he has made 1 appearance with 94 minutes played. He also represented Argentina at the 2016 Olympic Games, making 2 appearances and scoring 1 goal. [edit]

Correa is widely seen as a resilient figure who overcame poverty, personal tragedy, and a life-threatening medical condition to succeed at the highest level. On the pitch, he is known for his dribbling, vision, and versatility, able to play as a striker, second striker, or right winger. He was a fan favorite at Atlético Madrid, where his passion and commitment earned him a decade-long stay. Off the pitch, he maintains a relatively low profile, using social media mainly for football content and personal moments. His story is frequently described as inspirational, and he is often portrayed as a symbol of perseverance. [edit]

Ángel Correa stands as the 31st most famous person from Argentina, a position he has held steady in the latest cycle of global attention. This standing places him firmly among his country's elite cultural exports within the iFANN Global Fame Rankings. His journey from a humble background in Rosario to becoming a World Cup winner and a decade-long icon at Atlético Madrid has generated sustained interest across continents. The rankings reflect this enduring legacy, capturing the resonance of his career across media coverage, search activity, and consumption signals worldwide.

While his professional achievements have secured his place in history, his fanbase does not operate under a single, unique moniker distinct from the massive ultras groups that support his clubs. During his illustrious tenure at Atlético Madrid, his supporters were integrated into the club's general following, and upon his recent moves to Tigres UANL and River Plate, he became part of their established, highly organized structures like Los Leones and La Banda de la Ribera. There are no documented independent organizations, fan-funded charity drives, or specific rituals dedicated solely to him outside these club affiliations. His digital presence remains focused on team achievements rather than personal cult-building, with social media updates serving primarily to celebrate collective success rather than isolate individual hero worship.[edit]

Correa is one of several Argentine football stars hailing from Rosario, joining the ranks of Lionel Messi and Ángel Di María. His early life was marked by profound hardship; he sold roses alongside his mother and begged door-to-door with his grandmother to survive. After losing both his father and a brother, he moved alone to Buenos Aires at just twelve years old. A heart tumor discovered during his initial medical examination at Atlético Madrid turned out to be benign and was successfully removed, allowing his career to flourish. He captained Argentina's U20 squad to victory in the 2015 South American Championship, earning the Player of the Tournament award. Before his European stint, he won the Argentine Primera División with San Lorenzo in 2013. In a 2025 interview reflecting on those difficult times, he recounted: "We ate at noon and at night we didn't. We would go out to ask, we would open taxi doors downtown, sell roses with my mom. With my grandmother we also walked kilometers and kilometers to ask door to door." His return to River Plate in 2026 after a brief, turbulent spell in Mexico has been widely celebrated as a homecoming for a true legend.[edit]

Correa was one of ten siblings growing up in Rosario. His father died when he was 10, leaving his mother to raise the family in extreme poverty. He has spoken about selling roses with his mother and going door-to-door asking for food with his grandmother. He is married as of 2026, though he keeps his family life private. No information about children is publicly available. [edit]

Correa spent the majority of his European career under Diego Simeone at Atlético Madrid. He has been teammates with Lionel Messi, Rodrigo De Paul, Julián Álvarez, Lautaro Martínez, Enzo Fernández, and Alexis Mac Allister on the Argentina national team. He also played alongside Giuliano Simeone at Atlético and for Argentina. [edit]

Correa is married as of 2026, though he keeps his personal life private. The identity of his spouse and the timeline of their relationship are not publicly documented. No public records of previous relationships, engagements, or high-profile flings are available. [edit]

iFANN currently estimates Ángel Correa's net worth at $20 million as of 2026. This wealth stems primarily from his extensive career in professional football. He initially joined Atlético Madrid in 2014 with a transfer fee of approximately £6 million. Over his decade-long stay in Spain, he commanded a salary typical for a key squad player in La Liga, though exact figures remain undisclosed. His subsequent move to Tigres UANL in 2025 likely included a competitive wage package from the Mexican league. By 2026, he had returned to River Plate, where he continues to earn a substantial professional salary. While endorsements and sponsorships contribute to his income, he maintains a relatively low commercial profile compared to some of his peers.[edit]

Correa has won major club and international honors. With San Lorenzo, he won the Argentine Primera División (2013) and the Copa Libertadores (2014). At Atlético Madrid, he won the UEFA Europa League (2018), UEFA Super Cup (2018), and La Liga (2021). Internationally, he won the Copa América (2021) and the FIFA World Cup (2022) with Argentina. He was named Player of the Tournament at the 2015 South American U-20 Championship. [edit]