Diego Gómez Profile, Stats and Career
The 23-year-old Brighton midfielder who scored the goal that shocked Brazil in qualifying — Paraguay's most exciting young player at the 2026 FIFA World Cup.
By
Saim Junior
Published June 2026Diego Gómez is a 23-year-old Paraguayan box-to-box midfielder playing for Brighton & Hove Albion in the English Premier League. One of the most exciting young midfielders in European football, he is the rising star of Paraguay's 2026 World Cup squad — the player who scored the winning goal that shocked Brazil in qualifying and delivered the margin that all but sealed La Albirroja's first World Cup in 16 years. This profile covers his age, career, Brighton stats, and international record.
Born in San Juan Bautista, Paraguay, Gómez is from the same city as captain Gustavo Gómez — no relation. He came through Libertad's academy and made his senior debut in May 2022, making 52 appearances for the club across 14 months before Inter Miami signed him in July 2023. Brighton & Hove Albion purchased him in January 2025 for a significant fee, and he scored four goals in one League Cup match against Barnsley in September 2025.
Quick Answer
Diego Alexander Gómez Amarilla is a Paraguayan professional midfielder born on 27 March 2003 in San Juan Bautista, Paraguay. He plays for Brighton & Hove Albion in the English Premier League and has been selected for Paraguay's 2026 FIFA World Cup squad. Gómez transferred from Inter Miami to Brighton in January 2025 on a contract through June 2030. His market value is estimated at approximately €25–30 million.
Early Life and Background
Diego Gómez was born on 27 March 2003 in San Juan Bautista, in the Misiones Department of Paraguay — the same city as Paraguay's captain Gustavo Gómez, though the two are unrelated. He joined Libertad's youth academy and made his senior debut on 19 May 2022 at age 19, one of the youngest players in Paraguay's top flight to debut that season.
His 14 months at Libertad produced 52 appearances and a combination of goals and assists that made him one of the most coveted young midfielders in South American football. Inter Miami's acquisition in July 2023 was driven by David Beckham and his co-owners, who identified Gómez as a generational talent for the franchise.
From Inter Miami to Brighton and Premier League football
At Inter Miami in 2023–24, Gómez scored on his MLS debut against New York Red Bulls and went on to make 28 appearances, contributing 6 goals and 7 assists as Miami reached the MLS playoffs. Brighton & Hove Albion identified him and completed his signing in January 2025 — his official debut came on 19 January 2025 in a 3–1 win over Manchester United.
His first Premier League goal came on 25 May 2025 in a 4–1 win over Tottenham Hotspur on the final matchday of the season. His most spectacular club moment came on 23 September 2025: four goals in Brighton's 6–0 League Cup win over Barnsley, with two of the goals scored from distance drawing comparisons to some of the finest strikes seen at any level of English football that season.
Diego Gómez Personal Info and Profile
| Full name | Diego Alexander Gómez Amarilla |
|---|---|
| Date of birth | 27 March 2003 |
| Age | 23 |
| Place of birth | San Juan Bautista, Paraguay |
| Nationality | Paraguay |
| Height | 6 ft 0 in / 1.85 m |
| Weight | ~174 lbs / 79 kg |
| Position | Central Midfielder / Box-to-Box |
| Preferred foot | Right |
| Current club | Brighton & Hove Albion |
| Jersey number | 25 |
Diego Gómez is a 6 ft right-footed central midfielder whose combination of size, energy, and technical quality is unusual for his age. His ability to arrive late in the penalty area, shoot from distance, and cover ground box-to-box places him among the most complete young midfielders in European football. At Brighton, he has been given the opportunity to develop under one of the Premier League's most progressive coaching structures.
Transfer News and Market Value
Brighton signed Gómez in January 2025 on a contract through June 2030 for a transfer fee reported at approximately €18–20 million from Inter Miami. His contract makes him one of the most securely contracted young Paraguayan players in European football, with no reported transfer interest ahead of the World Cup.
His market value is estimated at €25–30 million as of June 2026 — rising sharply from the approximately €5 million valuation at his Inter Miami signing. A strong World Cup showing could push that figure significantly higher.
Brighton's contract structure through 2030 means Gómez will be 27 at expiry — covering his absolute peak years. Any potential move to a Champions League club in the 2027–29 window would likely command a fee in excess of €40–50 million if his trajectory continues.
No serious transfer interest has been publicly reported ahead of the 2026 World Cup. Brighton view him as a long-term asset rather than a player to sell in the near term.
Salary and Net Worth
Diego Gómez's salary at Brighton is estimated between £50,000 and £80,000 per week, consistent with a young developing player on an important long-term contract at a Premier League club.
His Inter Miami salary was at MLS rates — estimated at approximately $800,000–1.2 million annually — before the Brighton move. The Premier League contract represents a significant salary increase.
Total career earnings to date are estimated at approximately $5–8 million USD, reflecting his age and the relatively short duration of his senior professional career.
His World Cup squad selection will provide a supplement through Paraguay's FIFA prize pool distribution — the first significant international tournament payment of his career.
Commercial interest in Gómez has been growing since his four-goal Barnsley performance in September 2025. Brighton kit deals and emerging social media profile are the beginning of what may become a more significant commercial portfolio.
Estimated net worth is approximately $3–5 million USD at this early stage of his career. His earning potential over the next decade is considered very high given his trajectory.
Brighton's commercial partnership with Adidas and Gómez's own growing profile may lead to individual endorsement conversations following a prominent World Cup showing.
Diego Gómez Club Career
Gómez made his senior debut at Libertad in May 2022 at age 19 and spent 14 months establishing himself as one of Paraguay's most dynamic young midfielders. His 52 appearances — including Copa Libertadores matches — provided senior experience ahead of his MLS move.
Inter Miami signed him in July 2023 and he immediately adjusted to MLS's pace, scoring on debut and contributing 6 goals and 7 assists across 28 appearances in 2023–24. His performances helped Miami reach the playoffs and attracted Brighton's attention during their scouting of South American talent.
Brighton paid approximately €18–20 million in January 2025 and his debut against Manchester United (3–1 win) confirmed he was ready for Premier League football. The four-goal League Cup performance against Barnsley in September 2025 — including two long-range strikes — announced him as one of the most exciting young midfielders in England.
In the 2025–26 Premier League season, Gómez has made regular appearances for Brighton, contributing to their UEFA Conference League campaign as well. His emergence from Brighton's academy-style development structure has been one of the highlights of the club's 2025–26 campaign.
Club Career Stats
| Period | Club | Apps | Goals |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2022–2023 | Libertad | 52 | 6 |
| 2023–2025 | Inter Miami | 60+ | 10 |
| 2025–present | Brighton & Hove Albion | 40+ | 5 |
2025–26 Brighton season highlights
| Competition | Notable performance |
|---|---|
| EFL Cup (League Cup) | 4 goals vs Barnsley (23 Sep 2025, 6–0 win) |
| Premier League debut | 3–1 win vs Manchester United (19 Jan 2025) |
| Premier League first goal | 4–1 win vs Tottenham (25 May 2025) |
International Career
Diego Gómez made his senior Paraguay debut in August 2022 at age 19, one of the youngest players to debut for La Albirroja in that qualifying cycle. He has made 15+ caps since and featured in 13 World Cup qualifying matches.
His most important international moment came when he scored the winning goal against Brazil in qualifying — a result that all but sealed Paraguay's World Cup place and was celebrated as one of the most memorable results in modern Paraguayan football history. That goal against one of CONMEBOL's superpowers confirmed his status as Paraguay's most important young player.
At 23, Gómez enters the 2026 World Cup as one of the youngest midfielders in Paraguay's squad and one of the most potentially impactful. His ability to cover ground, arrive late in the area, and shoot from distance gives Paraguay a dimension in midfield that other teams in Group D will have to account for.
| National team | Caps | Goals | Tournament involvement |
|---|---|---|---|
| Paraguay | 15+ | 1 | WC Qualifying 2026; 2026 FIFA World Cup |
Honours and Trophies
| Trophy | Times Won | Years |
|---|---|---|
| Copa Libertadores participation | — | Libertad 2022–23, Brighton 2025–26 |
| Conference League participation | — | Brighton 2025–26 |
Playing Style and Key Strengths
Diego Gómez is a dynamic box-to-box midfielder who combines physical size — 6 ft, strong running capacity — with technical quality in tight spaces and a shooting ability from distance that has become a signature. He runs further than most midfielders at his level, arriving late in the box while also being available to receive from defenders in deep positions.
His right foot is dominant but he is comfortable with his left. His shooting from distance — demonstrated most spectacularly with the Barnsley goals — reflects an ability to hit the ball cleanly from outside the area that is increasingly rare at international level. At 23, the physical and technical ceiling is considered very high.
The defining goal of Paraguay's qualifying campaign
Gómez's goal against Brazil in qualifying — winning the match and all but securing Paraguay's World Cup place — is the defining international moment of his career so far. That he scored it against the most successful South American nation in World Cup history, at 22 years old, in a match of the highest competitive pressure, reflects both his quality and his composure.
Frequently Asked Questions
Conclusion
Diego Gómez's rapid ascent from San Juan Bautista through Libertad, Inter Miami, and Brighton & Hove Albion to Paraguay's 2026 World Cup squad is one of the most compressed and impressive development arcs in Paraguayan football history. At 23 he is already competing at the highest level of club football and delivering the defining moments of international qualification.
The 2026 World Cup is not the peak of Gómez's career — it is the beginning. His contract at Brighton through 2030, his growing Premier League stature, and his international profile suggest that the next five to seven years could take him to an elite level few Paraguayan midfielders have reached. The World Cup is his introduction to that journey.
