Ronald Araújo

Ronald Araújo is a Uruguayan centre-back who can also play at right-back. Speed helps him cover ground to challenge attackers, while his strength in the air gives him a role at both ends of the pitch: contesting high balls in defence and meeting attacking corners.

Born in Rivera on 7 March 1999, he developed in Uruguayan football with Rentistas and Boston River before joining Barcelona’s B team in August 2018. He had already experienced Uruguay’s top division with Boston River, but his move to Spain initially took him into reserve-team football.

His Barcelona first-team debut followed in October 2019, and he became a permanent member of the senior squad for 2020/21. That season brought his first club trophy, the Copa del Rey. In 2021/22 he made 43 appearances across all competitions as he established himself in the defence.

His heading also supplied an attacking outlet. In March 2022 he met a corner to score in Barcelona’s 4–0 win at Real Madrid, his first goal in a Clásico. Three of his four league goals that season came from headers, showing how a defender could add another route to goal.

He won LaLiga with Barcelona in 2022/23, 2024/25 and 2025/26, alongside a second Copa del Rey in 2024/25. His teammates also voted him into the club’s captaincy group in 2023, then made him deputy captain the following year.

With Uruguay, his senior debut came in October 2020. His first international goal opened the scoring in a 2–0 World Cup qualifying win away to Argentina in November 2023. He was selected for the 2026 World Cup, but did not make an appearance before Uruguay’s elimination in the group stage.

In August 2026, Barcelona and Liverpool announced his loan move to the English club. The agreement took him to English football after almost eight years within Barcelona’s reserve and first-team structure.

Latest stats & form

Ronald Araújo currently plays for Liverpool as a centre-back. He has represented Uruguay internationally.

Statistics cover recorded official matches.