Last Updated on September 15, 2026 by Helena

Paulo César Díaz Huincales is a Chilean professional footballer who plays primarily as a centre-back for Atlanta United and represents the Chile national team. Born on August 25, 1994, in Santa Cruz, Chile, Díaz comes from a strongly football-oriented family. His father, Ítalo Díaz, was a professional defender and Chile international, while his younger brother, Nicolás Díaz, also became a professional footballer and represented Chile. Away from the pitch, Paulo is married to his longtime partner, Fernanda Arenas, and the couple have two children, Agustín and Antonella.
Who Is Paulo Díaz’s Wife?
Paulo Díaz’s wife is Fernanda Arenas. Their relationship began many years before Paulo became one of Chile’s most established international defenders.
According to Argentine and Chilean media reports, Paulo and Fernanda have known each other since they were teenagers. Their relationship continued as Díaz’s football career took him from Chile to Argentina, Saudi Arabia and eventually the United States.
The couple formally married in a civil ceremony on August 11, 2023. Chilean broadcaster T13 reported that the intimate celebration included relatives and friends and that Paulo and Fernanda were already parents to their two children, Agustín and Antonella.
Later that year, the couple also celebrated their marriage with a church ceremony. By that stage, Fernanda had already accompanied Paulo through some of the biggest stages of his professional career, including his successful years with River Plate.
How Long Have Paulo Díaz and Fernanda Arenas Been Together?
Paulo Díaz and Fernanda Arenas have been together since they were young. Reports surrounding their wedding indicated that they had known each other since Paulo was approximately 17 years old.
Their relationship therefore predates most of the defender’s high-profile professional career. Díaz made his senior breakthrough in Chile before representing clubs such as Palestino, Colo-Colo and San Lorenzo and later moving abroad.
Fernanda has occasionally appeared alongside Paulo at celebrations and during family holidays, but she generally keeps a lower public profile than her husband. The couple have nevertheless shared some major family moments publicly, including their marriage and time with their two children.
Does Paulo Díaz Have Children?
Yes. Paulo Díaz and Fernanda Arenas have two children: a son named Agustín and a daughter named Antonella.
Both children were born before Paulo and Fernanda officially married in 2023. Chilean media specifically identified Agustín and Antonella as the couple’s two children when reporting on their civil wedding.
Paulo occasionally shares moments involving his family, although he and Fernanda have avoided making their children constant public figures. Their appearances are generally limited to family celebrations, holidays and important moments in Paulo’s football career.
Who Is Paulo Díaz’s Son Agustín?
Agustín Díaz is the son of Paulo Díaz and Fernanda Arenas. He is one of the couple’s two children and has grown up while his father has played professional football in several countries.
Although Agustín has appeared in family photographs, there is limited reliable information about his personal life. Paulo and Fernanda appear to maintain appropriate privacy around their children, and details such as his exact birth date have not been consistently documented by major sports publications.
For that reason, information about Agustín should remain limited to details that Paulo, Fernanda or reliable media outlets have made public.
Who Is Paulo Díaz’s Daughter Antonella?
Antonella Díaz is Paulo Díaz and Fernanda Arenas’s daughter. She is the couple’s second publicly known child.
Like her brother Agustín, Antonella has occasionally appeared in family-related content connected to the Chile international, but her parents largely protect her private life.
Reliable Chilean reporting confirms her name and her relationship to Paulo, but there is little need to speculate about additional personal details that the family has chosen not to disclose.
Who Are Paulo Díaz’s Parents?
Paulo Díaz is the son of former Chilean professional footballer Ítalo Díaz. His mother has maintained a much more private profile, and her full name has not been reliably established by major sports publications.
Football was an important part of Paulo’s upbringing because of his father’s professional career. Ítalo understood the demands of becoming a professional player and was able to guide both Paulo and his younger brother Nicolás as they developed their own careers.
The Díaz family eventually produced two Chile internationals from the next generation, making Ítalo, Paulo and Nicolás one of the notable football families associated with the Chilean national team.
Who Is Paulo Díaz’s Father, Ítalo Díaz?
Ítalo Andrés Díaz Muñoz is Paulo Díaz’s father. Born on June 21, 1971, he was a professional defender who played for several clubs in Chile.
His career included spells with teams such as Deportes Santa Cruz, Provincial Osorno, Audax Italiano and Cobreloa. Ítalo also reached international level and represented the Chile national team in 2001.
Ítalo’s influence on Paulo’s career has been publicly documented for many years. When Paulo joined Colo-Colo in 2015, father and son spoke together about his development and the significance of taking another step forward in professional football.
Ítalo has said that, like many former footballers, he dreamed of seeing his children succeed in the sport. That dream was fulfilled twice because both Paulo and Nicolás eventually became professional defenders.
Ítalo Díaz’s Influence on Paulo Díaz
Having a former professional footballer as a father gave Paulo access to someone who understood the challenges of the sport from an early age.
Ítalo followed Paulo’s development closely and has frequently defended and supported his son during difficult periods. In a 2021 interview, he discussed the criticism Paulo sometimes received in Chile and expressed pride in what his son had achieved with River Plate and the national team.
The similarities between their careers are striking. Both played as defenders, both reached Chile’s senior national team and both experienced professional football at a high level.
Paulo eventually surpassed his father in terms of international appearances and club achievements, but Ítalo has consistently spoken about his son’s success with pride rather than comparison.
Who Is Paulo Díaz’s Mother?
The identity of Paulo Díaz’s mother has remained largely outside the public spotlight. Her full name has not been consistently reported by reliable mainstream sports sources.
Paulo’s complete name is Paulo César Díaz Huincales, with Huincales being his maternal surname under Spanish naming conventions. However, a surname alone is not enough to responsibly identify his mother, and her full identity should not be guessed from unofficial biography pages.
Most detailed profiles of Paulo’s upbringing focus on his father because Ítalo had his own professional football career. His mother appears to have maintained a considerably more private life.
Does Paulo Díaz Have Siblings?
Yes. Paulo Díaz has a younger brother named Nicolás Díaz, who is also a professional footballer.
Nicolás Andrés Díaz Huincales was born on May 20, 1999. Like Paulo and their father, he developed into a defender capable of playing centrally or on the left side of the back line.
Nicolás progressed through Palestino’s youth system and began his professional career with the club. He later moved to Mexican football and also earned senior international appearances for Chile.
No other sibling has been documented as consistently as Nicolás in reliable public sources, so he is the only brother or sister who can confidently be identified in Paulo Díaz’s immediate family.
Paulo Díaz and His Brother Nicolás Díaz
Paulo and Nicolás Díaz achieved a particularly special family milestone when they were selected together for the Chile national team.
In October 2020, both defenders were called up for World Cup qualifying matches against Uruguay and Colombia. Their father, Ítalo, publicly expressed his happiness at seeing both sons included in the national-team squad.
Paulo was already established with Chile at the time, while the call-up represented an important breakthrough for Nicolás. Their presence together gave the family an unusual distinction: Ítalo had previously represented Chile himself before watching both of his sons reach the same national team.
The brothers also share several footballing characteristics. Both developed primarily as defenders, can operate in more than one defensive position and began their professional careers through Chilean football before moving abroad.
A Three-Generation Football Story in the Díaz Family
Football is deeply connected to the Díaz family story. Ítalo established the family’s professional connection to the sport in the 1990s and early 2000s before Paulo and Nicolás followed him.
Paulo initially spent time in the youth structures of clubs including Cobreloa and Audax Italiano before establishing himself professionally with Palestino. His performances eventually earned him moves to Colo-Colo and San Lorenzo.
He later played for Al-Ahli in Saudi Arabia before joining River Plate in 2019. Díaz spent seven seasons with the Argentine giants, winning several domestic trophies and establishing himself as one of the most recognizable Chilean defenders playing abroad.
Atlanta United announced his signing in July 2026, bringing the defender to Major League Soccer after his lengthy spell with River Plate.
Paulo Díaz’s Family Life During His Career Abroad
Paulo’s professional career has required his family to adapt to life in several countries. His moves have taken him from Chile to Argentina, Saudi Arabia and eventually the United States.
Fernanda Arenas has been alongside him for much of that journey. Their long relationship began before Paulo became internationally famous and continued as he built his career abroad and became a regular member of the Chile national team.
The birth of Agustín and Antonella added another dimension to Paulo’s life away from football. Family photographs shared during holidays and important celebrations show that the defender remains closely connected to his wife and children despite the demanding schedule of professional football.
Frequently Asked Questions About Paulo Díaz’s Family
Who is Paulo Díaz’s girlfriend?
Paulo Díaz does not have a publicly known girlfriend because he is married. His wife is Fernanda Arenas.
Who is Paulo Díaz’s wife?
Paulo Díaz’s wife is Fernanda Arenas. The longtime couple officially married in a civil ceremony on August 11, 2023, before later celebrating a religious wedding.
How many children does Paulo Díaz have?
Paulo Díaz has two children with Fernanda Arenas: a son named Agustín and a daughter named Antonella.
What are Paulo Díaz’s children called?
His children are named Agustín and Antonella.
Who is Paulo Díaz’s father?
Paulo Díaz’s father is Ítalo Díaz, a former professional defender who represented several Chilean clubs and earned senior international appearances for Chile in 2001.
Who is Paulo Díaz’s mother?
Paulo Díaz’s mother maintains a private profile. Her full name has not been reliably documented in major public sources.
Does Paulo Díaz have a brother?
Yes. His younger brother is Nicolás Díaz, another professional defender who has also represented the Chile national team.
Did Paulo Díaz’s father play football?
Yes. Ítalo Díaz was a professional centre-back whose clubs included Deportes Santa Cruz, Provincial Osorno, Audax Italiano and Cobreloa. He also represented Chile at senior international level.
Have Paulo and Nicolás Díaz played together for Chile?
Yes. The brothers were part of the Chile national-team squad together during the 2020 World Cup qualifying campaign, creating a memorable moment for their father, former Chile international Ítalo Díaz.
Where does Paulo Díaz play now?
As of now, Paulo Díaz plays for Atlanta United in Major League Soccer. The club signed him in July 2026 following seven seasons with River Plate.

Helena Lena Jessica Da Laila is a football writer covering Spanish women’s football, with a focus on Liga F, tactical trends, and emerging talents shaping the women’s game in Spain.
