Álex Arce went from selling hammocks on the street to leading Paraguay’s attack at the World Cup.
Here’s a full breakdown of his net worth, salary, contract, and career earnings as his stock keeps rising.
Álex Arce’s Biography
| Category | Details |
|---|---|
| Full Name | Álex Adrián Arce Barrios |
| Date of Birth | June 16, 1995 |
| Age | 31 |
| Nationality | Paraguayan |
| Place of Birth | Carapeguá, Paraguay |
| Height / Weight | 1.87 m (6’2″) / 80 kg |
| Position | Centre-Forward / Striker |
| Current Club | CS Independiente Rivadavia (Argentina) |
| Turned Professional | 2015 (Cerro Porteño) |
| Net Worth | Estimated $2 million |
| Contract | Through December 31, 2028 |
| Relationship Status | Married to Clarissa Fernández (since December 2024) |
Early Life and Career
Arce was born in Carapeguá, a small town in Paraguay’s Paraguarí Department, and was raised by his mother, Miriam Barrios.
Football was his way out from an early age, and he joined the youth ranks of Cerro Porteño, one of Paraguay’s biggest and most decorated clubs, signing his first professional contract in 2015.
According to his Transfermarkt profile, his rise was anything but smooth.
It took him nearly two years after signing to make his first-team debut, and shortly after breaking through, he ruptured his cruciate ligament, a devastating injury for a young striker trying to establish himself.
He never fully recaptured his earlier form at Cerro Porteño and spent long stretches training with the reserve squad rather than competing for first-team minutes.
By 2019, with his path at Cerro blocked, Arce left to find regular football in a smaller league, joining Paraguayan side Sportivo Ameliano, where, per his Wikipedia biography, he helped the club earn promotion.
The setback that defined this period of his career came during the COVID-19 pandemic: with football income drying up and opportunities scarce, a 25-year-old Arce had to support himself by selling handmade hammocks and bedsheets on the street in Carapeguá.
He has said publicly that he considered quitting football altogether during this stretch, and that a promise to his mother kept him going.
Professional Career
Arce’s breakthrough came after his move abroad. He joined Argentine club Independiente Rivadavia, where he became a prolific scorer in the second division and was a key figure in the club’s promotion push, turning himself from a forgotten reserve player into a wanted striker across South America.
His form earned him a move to Ecuadorian giants LDU de Quito (Liga de Quito) in 2023, where he became one of the league’s most feared finishers.
He scored 25 goals and added 4 assists across 35 matches in all competitions during one stretch with the club, a run detailed by El Futbolero Ecuador, and won the Recopa Sudamericana and Copa Libertadores group-stage matches along the way with LDU.
His performances were strong enough that Brazilian club Corinthians reportedly made an offer of close to $4 million for him, which LDU rejected, instead negotiating an improved contract to keep him at the club.
Arce surprised many by returning to Independiente Rivadavia, now competing in Argentina’s top flight, signing a contract that, according to his Transfermarkt transfer history, runs through December 2028.
He officially joined the club on July 6, 2025. On the international stage, Arce made his senior debut for the Paraguay national team on June 7, 2024, starting and playing 65 minutes in a scoreless friendly draw against Peru.
His consistent club form earned him a place in Paraguay’s squad for the 2026 FIFA World Cup, capping an extraordinary turnaround from a player who was selling hammocks just a few years earlier.
Wife
Arce is married to Clarissa Fernández, his longtime partner who he met during his time in Cerro Porteño’s youth system.
He proposed to her in 2024 with a chocolate cake hiding an engagement message, and the couple married in Carapeguá in December 2024.
Fernández has been a constant presence throughout his career, including the difficult years when he was working outside football to make ends meet.
The couple does not have publicly confirmed children. Arce is also the cousin of fellow footballer Fernando Arce, who plays for CD Santaní.
Álex Arce’s Net Worth Details
As of 2026, Álex Arce’s has an estimated net worth of around $2 million.
Arce has not had his finances independently audited by a financial outlet, and no club has publicly disclosed his exact salary, so this figure is a realistic estimate built from his known transfer activity, market value, and the salary bands typical of a starting striker in the Argentine Primera División.
Contract
Arce’s current deal with Independiente Rivadavia runs from his arrival on July 6, 2025, through December 31, 2028.
The club, where he was already considered a club legend after his earlier promotion-winning spell, made re-signing him a priority once his stock rose in Ecuador.
Exact guaranteed money and signing bonus figures have not been made public.
Salary
Arce’s specific annual salary at Independiente Rivadavia has €750,000.
Based on typical wages for an established starting forward in Argentina’s top division, his pay is reasonably estimated in the low-to-mid six figures annually in U.S. dollars, with his highest-earning seasons coming during his goal-scoring run at LDU Quito in Ecuador, where reported transfer interest from Corinthians pushed the club to improve his terms.
Career Earnings By Year
| Season | Team | Salary |
|---|---|---|
| 2015–2019 | Cerro Porteño | Not publicly disclosed |
| 2019–2023 | Sportivo Ameliano / Independiente Rivadavia | €550,000 |
| 2023–2025 | LDU de Quito (Ecuador) | Not publicly disclosed |
| 2025–present | CS Independiente Rivadavia | €750,000 |
Career Statistics
| Club | Appearances | Goals | Assists |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cerro Porteño | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| Independiente Rivadavia (career total) | 155 | 102 | 6 |
| LDU de Quito | 35+ (one full stretch) | 25 | 4 |
FAQs
What is Álex Arce’s net worth?
Álex Arce’s net worth is estimated at around $2 million. This figure is based on his transfer history, contract length, and typical salary levels for a starting striker in Argentina’s top division, since exact club wages haven’t been published.
Which club does Álex Arce play for?
Arce plays for CS Independiente Rivadavia in Argentina’s Liga Profesional, having returned to the club in July 2025 on a contract through December 2028, after an earlier promotion-winning spell there.
Has Álex Arce played at the World Cup?
Yes. Arce earned a place in Paraguay’s 2026 World Cup squad after strong form at club level, as confirmed in reporting on Paraguay’s final roster, having made his senior international debut for Paraguay in June 2024 against Peru.
Is Álex Arce married?
Yes. Arce married his longtime partner, Clarissa Fernández, in December 2024 in his hometown of Carapeguá, Paraguay, after proposing to her earlier that year in Ecuador.
Did Álex Arce almost quit football?
Yes. During the COVID-19 pandemic, with no football income, Arce worked selling handmade hammocks and bedsheets on the street in Carapeguá and has said he considered quitting the sport before committing to keep going.
