Diego Ribas Biography, Age, Career, Net Worth, Market Value, Family, Awards and Many More

Diego Ribas da Cunha, who is known as Diego Ribas or just Diego, represents the national soccer team of Brazil in the role of an attacking midfielder. He also plays for the Brazilian club Flamengo.

Diego started his career at Santos; there, he won Campeonato Brasileiro Série A twice. After that, in 2004, he moved to Porto in 2004. Even though he won more trophies for the team, his individual form went down. Then, after playing for two seasons, Diego joined Werder Bremen for 6 million EUR. As his form went up, he helped win domestic titles. Besides, the team also reached the final of UEFA Cup 2009. Additionally, he helped Atlético Madrid win titles, as well, like the 2012 UEFA Europa League.

Diego Ribas Biography

He joined Brazil as a full international in 2003. There, he has earned 34 caps, scoring four international goals. He became part of the Brazilian squads that reached the final of CONCACAF Gold Cup in 2003, besides winning Copa América in 2004 and 2007, as well as an Olympic bronze in 2008.

Full Biography of Diego Ribas

Diego Ribas Early Career

Diego showed his love for football at an extremely early age, and when he was only six years old, he joined Comercial FC in Ribeirão Preto. After that, he joined another club named São Carlos; he was nine years old age at this point. But, after this, Diego decided that he would try at bigger clubs.

Diego Ribas Santos Career

At the age of 12, Diego first signed with Santos. He developed with the Santos youth system, before debuting for the team at 16, in 2002 Rio-São Paulo Championship. Following his debut, he helped win the domestic championship of Campeonato Brasileiro. He helped Santos earn the Campeonato Brasileiro in 2002 and 2004.

Diego Ribas Porto Career

Diego then signed with the Porto in Primeira Liga in July 2004. However, his level of performances did not match what he showed at Santos. Diego debuted for the Portuguese team in a 1–1 tie with União de Leiria in August. Following that, in October, he made his first goal for the team in a 2–2 tie with Nacional.

As Porto won Once Caldas in the Intercontinental Cup, Diego had to leave the ground for swearing at the goalkeeper, after he converted his penalty shot. During the season, Diego appeared in 30 games and scored two goals. However, in 2005–06, he failed to keep his place stable in the team. Besides, he was also having trouble adjusting to his life at Porto. Eventually, he had to leave the club.

Porto’s wins during his tenure include:

• Intercontinental Cup: 2004
• Portuguese Liga: 2005–06
• Supertaça de Portugal: 2004

Diego Ribas Werder Bremen Career

Diego joined Werder Bremen in May 2006, and became part if the German Bundesliga. His contract would keep him in the team till 2010, and cost the club 6 million EUR as the transfer fee. He debuted for the team in DFB-Ligapokal, and Bremen beat Bayern Much to the cup, in August. The season of 2006–07 started well for Diego. He made his debut goal Bremen in a 4–2 victory over Hannover 96, in August. Besides, he set up two goals in the match.

As a result of his amazing displays in August, in Bundesliga, as well as Ligapokal, Diego earned the Player of the Month honour in August. With the progress of Bundesliga, he succeeded in making many great performances, and became a key player of the tea, becoming the Player of the Month again in October and December. Besides, he became the Best Player in Bundesliga’s first half of the season. Diego’s creative play helped the team finish in the third place of Champions League Group A. Additionally, they reached the semi-final stage of the UEFA Cup, thanks to Diego.

In April, during a game against Alemannia Aachen, Diego made a goal from 62.5 m, and this goal became the goal of the year. After 2006–07 came to an end, Diego was awarded the Bundesliga Player of the Season from a popular magazine named Kicker.

Diego Ribas UEFA Success

Diego began 2007-08 with a successful penalty shot on the first match. Additionally, he gave several great performances. He helped his team reach the group stage in the Champions League of 2007–08, beating Dinamo Zagreb 3–2; and, Diego converted two penalties. In the first match of the group stage of Champions League, Real Madrid defeated Bremen. But, Diego’s displays attracted the attracted the manager of Real Madrid, Bernd Schuster. However, putting rumours of the transfer to rest, Diego signed a contract extension till 2011.

Later in the season, Bremen won over Arminia Bielefeld with a score of 8–1, and Diego scored a goal, besides making 3 assists. In September, he became the Player of the Month. Then, with 2 goals, he helped his team to the round of 16 in UEFA Cup. Though 2008-09 was Diego’s last season with Bremen, it was also the most successful. He ended it with 20 goals.

He made 6 goals in the UEFA Cup group stages. Then, he went on to score in the round of 32 against Milan and helped his team to the round of 16. Then he also scored goals and made an assist in the quarter-final. Diego failed to appear in the UEFA Cup in the final, because of an unfortunate booking. During his time, the team’s successes include:

• DFB-Ligapokal: 2006
• DFB-Pokal: 2008–09

Diego Ribas Juventus Career

In May 2009, Diego signed a contract of five years with Juventus. They paid a fee of 24.5 million EUR for the play. He debuted against Seongnam, winning the game with a score of 3–0. In the second Serie A fixture, he made his first goal of the campaign. He also made several assists, with the most notable one being a backheel to Alessandro Del Piero who converted it into a goal against Genoa. Additionally, he scored several goals.

Detailed club career of Diego Ribas

Diego Ribas VfL Wolfsburg Career

In August 2010, Diego joined VfL Wolfsburg, who paid a record fee of 15.5 million EUR. In his debut for Wolfsburg, he made his first goal for the team, who lost to Mainz 05 with a score of 3–4. He got the chance to score a penalty for the team, but he took the ball from Patrick Helmes who had been designated to take the shot in February 2011. His team eventually lost the match, and coach Steve McClaren fined him a sum of 100,000 EUR. Even though Dieter Hoeneß defended him, he was removed from the first team Hamburger SV. Upon receiving the information that he would not start a match, he left the team hotel, and in an important relegation match against 1899 Hoffenheim, Wolfsburg had just six players as a backup. While the team won, Diego had to pay a fine of 500,000 EUR.

Diego Ribas Loan to Atlético Madrid

Diego joined Atlético Madrid on loan, in 2011. In September, he debuted against Valencia. Then, he went on to score his first goal for the team in a Europa League match against Celtic which ended in a win of 2–0. Because of his assists and goals, he soon became an important part of the team. In May 2012, Diego scored in Atlético’s victory against Athletic Bilbao in the final of Europa League.

Diego Ribas Return to VfL Wolfsburg

After his spell at Atletico, Diego went back to VfL Wolfsburg. However, his relationship with the authorities deteriorated: and he found himself in the reserve side. But he became part of the series of a pre-season friendly tour in China. He appeared in the first match for the team after his return opposite VfB Stuttgart, and the Bundesliga match ended in a 1–0 win. Diego made his first return goal, besides making an assist in a 4–1 loss of Fortuna Düsseldorf in October 2012. All through the season, he put up amazing displays, with 10 goals in 37 matches,

Diego Ribas Atlético Madrid Career

After some disagreements with Wolfsburg, in January 2014, Diego went back to Atlético Madrid, signing a contract until the end of 2013–14. He debuted for the team in February in a 4–0 win against Real Sociedad, and also scored his return debut goal. During his tenure, Atletico’s successes, besides becoming the runner-up in the Champions League in 2013–14, include:

• UEFA Europa League: 2011–12
• La Liga: 2013–14

Diego Ribas Fenerbahçe Career

In July 2014, Diego signed a deal of three years with Fenerbahçe. He debuted for the team in the season’s first match which ended in a 3-2 victory over Karabükspor. His debut goal for the team was in the Turkish Cup against Altınordu, in December 2014. He continued to put up great displays, with goals and assists. Soon, he raised the complaint that the club had not paid him. In the season, he scored 5 goals in 30 games.

Diego Ribas Flamengo Career

In July 2016, Flamengo hired Diego for a period of three years. The player made an immediate impact on the team and turned out to be a major midfielder. He debuted in an August match of Brazilian Série A opposite Grêmio, and scored the match-winner with a header. During his time, Flamengo has earned the Campeonato Carioca in 2017.

The international career of Diego Ribas

Diego Ribas Brazil Career

Diego debuted for Brazil in 2003 in a match against Mexico. He also became part of the U23 team. For the first team, he has earned 34 caps, while for the U-23 team, he amassed 15 caps between 2004 and 2008. During his time, Brazil has earned the following:

• Copa América: 2004, 2007
• Olympic Bronze Medalist: 2008
• CONCACAF Gold Cup: Silver 2003
• Lunar New Year Cup: 2005

Diego Ribas Personal Life

As Diego’s paternal great-grandparents emigrated from Italy to Brazil, While Carlo Lazzari, his great-grandfather, belonged to Ferrara, Maria Concetta Viola, his great-grandmother, came from Naples. Diego married Bruna Letícia Araújo in 2010. Together, they have two sons named Davi and Matteo, born in 2011 and 2013.

Diego Ribas Net Worth

Diego’s current market value is £4.05 million. This is a massive decline from his market value of £26.10 million, which he achieved in 2009.

Diego Ribas Individual Awards

For his contributions to his teams and his incredible performances, Diego has received many honours and awards, which include:

• Bundesliga top assist provider: 2007–08
• Campeonato Brasileiro Série A Team of the Year: 2016
• Campeonato Carioca Team of the Year: 2017
• Copa do Brasil Best Player: 2017