Nicolás Otamendi is one of Argentina’s most experienced defenders, with a long club career across South America and Europe plus 130 senior caps for Argentina as of 31 March 2026. He is a World Cup winner, a two-time Copa América winner, and he entered 2026 as a veteran centre-back who had already played at multiple World Cups.
Nicolás Otamendi’s Biography
| Category | Details |
| Full Name | Nicolás Hernán Gonzalo Otamendi |
| Nickname | Nicolás Otamendi |
| Date of Birth | 12 February 1988 |
| Age | 38 years old |
| Birthplace | Buenos Aires, Argentina |
| Nationality | Argentine |
| Religion | N/A |
| Height | 1.83 m (6 ft 0 in) |
| Weight | 78 kg |
| Preferred Foot | Right |
| Position | Centre-back |
| Youth Clubs | Vélez Sarsfield |
| Senior Clubs | Vélez Sarsfield, Porto, Valencia, Atlético Mineiro (loan), Manchester City, Benfica, River Plate |
| Jersey Number | 30 at Benfica |
| International Debut | 20 May 2009 vs Panama |
| Turned Professional | 2007, when his senior club career began at Vélez Sarsfield |
| Net Worth | About $12 million to $15 million in public estimates, with higher salary-indexed databases placing it around £43.0 million |
| Annual Salary | Around £2.9million per year in one salary database; another report listed about €2.08 million annually |
| Marital Status | Married |
| Spouse | Celeste Rey |
| Children | Three children: Mia, Valentín, and Sienna |
| Instagram profile | @nicolasotamendi30 |
Otamendi’s public profile is that of a hard-tackling, high-experience centre-back who has won major trophies in Argentina, Portugal, England, and with the national team. Off the field, he keeps a relatively private family life, although his marriage to Celeste Rey and his children have been reported by multiple outlets.
Early Career
Otamendi came through Vélez Sarsfield’s youth system and made his first senior appearance in 2008. He became a regular during the 2009 Clausura and quickly built a reputation as a strong, reliable defender with good timing in the air and enough attacking threat to score a few important goals. By the time he left Argentina, he was already viewed as one of the more promising defenders in South America.
Professional Career
Otamendi’s career took him from Vélez to Porto in 2010, where he won multiple domestic titles and the 2011 UEFA Europa League. After a spell at Valencia and a loan to Atlético Mineiro, he joined Manchester City in 2015 and won major English honors, including back-to-back Premier League titles in 2018 and 2019. He returned to Portugal with Benfica in 2020, became a captain-level leader there, and later agreed to join River Plate in 2026.
Wife
Public reporting says Otamendi is married to Celeste Rey. Some sources say the couple has three children, while others clearly name two children, Mía and Valentín, so the safest public summary is that he has at least two publicly identified children and is widely reported as a father of three. His private life is not heavily documented in reliable football databases, so anything beyond that should be treated carefully.
Nicolás Otamendi’s Net Worth Details
Otamendi’s estimated net worth in 2026 varies a lot depending on the source, which is normal for footballers because many websites mix salary data, bonuses, and broad wealth guesses. Lower public estimates place him near $12 million to $15 million, while salary-based platforms show a much higher figure around £43.0 million. The most sensible way to read this is that his wealth is comfortably in the multi-million range, with his long club career and international success being the main drivers.
Contract
Officially available contract information is limited, but public reports said he signed a contract with River Plate in late May 2026 that runs from 1 July 2026 to 31 December 2027. Wikipedia also notes that he formally joins River Plate in July 2026. Earlier salary databases listed his Benfica deal as expiring in 2024, but that is outdated relative to his 2026 move and should not be treated as his current contract.
Salary
His reported salary figures are not perfectly consistent across public sources, which happens a lot with football wage estimates. One salary database said he earned about £57,000 per week, or £2.9million per year, at Benfica. Another public report placed his weekly income at about £120,000 and annual salary at about €2.08 million, so the safest wording is that his reported annual salary in the public record sits roughly in the low-to-mid seven-figure euro or pound range.
Career Earnings
| Period | Club / Team | Publicly reported earnings |
| 2023–2024 | Benfica | About £2.1 million per year |
| 2024–2025 | Benfica | About £2.1 million per year |
| 2024–2026 estimate | Benfica | About £2.9million per year, or £57,000 per week |
| Public estimate | Career wealth | About $12 million to $15 million in some biographies |
| Public estimate | Career wealth | About £43.0 million in one salary-based database |
Endorsements
There is no strong, official public record in the sources reviewed that breaks down Otamendi’s endorsement portfolio in detail. Like many senior footballers, he likely has some commercial income from sponsorships or related brand activity, but the exact brands and amounts were not clearly verified in the material reviewed.
So the only safe statement is that endorsement income may exist, but it is not publicly documented well enough to quantify confidently.
Career Records
| Record / Milestone | Details |
| Argentina senior caps | 130 as of 31 March 2026 |
| Argentina senior goals | 8 as of 31 March 2026 |
| 2022 World Cup achievement | Played every minute of Argentina’s winning tournament |
| Benfica Champions League milestone | Reached 100 UEFA Champions League appearances on 28 January 2026 |
| Benfica appearance milestone | Made his 200th Benfica appearance on 4 January 2025 |
| Major international titles | FIFA World Cup 2022, Copa América 2021, Copa América 2024, CONMEBOL–UEFA Cup of Champions 2022 |
| Club career total | 722 total club appearances and 47 goals across all competitions as of 16 May 2026 |
He is also notable for scoring important goals as a defender, including goals in World Cup qualifying and major tournaments. At international level, his combination of longevity and trophy success makes him one of the most decorated defenders in modern Argentine football.
FAQs
1. Who is Nicolás Otamendi?
Nicolás Otamendi is an Argentine professional footballer who plays as a centre-back for Benfica and the Argentina national team, known for his aggressive defending and aerial strength.
2. What position does Nicolás Otamendi play?
Nicolás Otamendi is a central defender, usually operating as a right-sided centre-back in a back four or the middle of a back three.
3. Which clubs has Nicolás Otamendi played for?
Otamendi has played for Vélez Sarsfield, Porto, Valencia, Atlético Mineiro on loan, Manchester City, and Benfica.
4. What trophies has Nicolás Otamendi won in his career?
Otamendi has won league titles in Argentina, Portugal, and England, the Europa League with Porto, multiple domestic cups with Manchester City, and major honours with Argentina including the World Cup and Copa América.
5. How many caps does Nicolás Otamendi have for Argentina?
Otamendi has earned well over 130 caps for Argentina, making him one of the most capped defenders in the country’s history.
6. Was Nicolás Otamendi part of Argentina’s 2022 World Cup-winning team?
Yes, Otamendi was a key starter for Argentina at the 2022 World Cup, playing most matches and helping the team win the tournament.
7. What are Nicolás Otamendi’s main strengths as a defender?
Otamendi is known for his physicality, bravery in duels, strong tackling, dominant heading in both boxes, and leadership in organizing the back line.
8. Why is Nicolás Otamendi nicknamed “El General”?
He is nicknamed “El General” because of his commanding defensive presence and his military-style salute celebration after scoring.
9. What is Nicolás Otamendi’s height and preferred foot?
Nicolás Otamendi is about 1.83 m tall and is predominantly right-footed.
10. Is Nicolás Otamendi still playing at club and international level?
Yes, he continues to play regularly for Benfica and remains available for selection for the Argentina national team.