José Luis Rodríguez — known across football circles as “Puma” — is one of Panama’s most travelled and technically gifted wingers.
From the streets of El Chorrillo in Panama City to Liga MX stadiums in Mexico, his career has taken him through Belgium, Croatia, Spain, Portugal, and Serbia. Fans and scouts alike want to know: what is José Luis Rodríguez’s net worth?
This article breaks down his estimated wealth, contract details at FC Juárez, career earnings, and the journey that built them.
José Luis Rodríguez’s Biography
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Full Name | José Luis Rodríguez Francis |
| Date of Birth | June 19, 1998 |
| Age | 27 |
| Place of Birth | El Chorrillo, Panama City, Panama |
| Nationality | Panamanian |
| Height | 1.80 m (5 ft 11 in) |
| Weight | 72 kg (170 lbs) |
| Position | Left Winger |
| Current Club | FC Juárez (Liga MX) |
| Jersey Number | 11 |
| Turned Professional | 2015 |
| Contract Expires | June 30, 2028 |
| Market Value | €1.80 million (Transfermarkt, 2026) |
| Net Worth | Estimated $1.5 million |
| International Caps | 66 (8 goals) for Panama |
Early Life & Career
José Luis Rodríguez Francis grew up in El Chorrillo, a neighbourhood in Panama City, and is the brother of retired Chorrillo FC captain Marcos Villarreal.
Football was always part of his environment, and he picked up his nickname “Puma” — a reference to his explosive pace and direct style on the left flank. As a young boy he was also called “Cocobolo” for his short hair, but Puma was the name that stuck as his career took off.
Rodríguez began his career with Panamanian club Chorrillo during the 2015–2016 season, making his professional debut on July 17, 2015, in a 0–1 defeat to Atlético Chiriquí.
He made 16 appearances for Chorrillo and scored his first senior goal in a 3–2 win over Alianza before catching the attention of European scouts.
That early exposure to Panamanian football — competitive, fast-paced, and tactically demanding — gave Rodríguez the raw edge that served him well once he crossed the Atlantic.
At just 18, he was already on radar internationally, a rare achievement for a player from CONCACAF’s smaller footballing nations.
Professional Career
After leaving Chorrillo in late 2016, Rodríguez joined Belgian club Gent II on loan before signing permanently, spending his formative European years there from 2016 to 2018.
That stint in Belgium’s reserve leagues sharpened his technical ability and physical conditioning. He then had a brief spell with Croatian side Istra 1961 in 2018 before making the move to Spain.
He signed with Deportivo Alavés in 2019, initially featuring for their B side before earning first-team opportunities. Loan spells at CD Lugo (2020–21) and Sporting Gijón (2021–22) followed, both clubs in Spain’s second tier.
His performances at Sporting Gijón in particular drew widespread attention — he demonstrated genuine quality as a direct, creative winger capable of both goals and assists.
In August 2022, he joined Portuguese top-flight side FC Famalicão for a fee of €500,000. Two productive seasons in the Primeira Liga established him as a trusted wide option at the European level.
In July 2024, Serbian giants Red Star Belgrade signed him for €2 million — the highest transfer fee of his career to date. He then moved to FC Juárez on loan in September 2024 before the move was made permanent on July 1, 2025.
At FC Juárez in the Liga MX, Rodríguez has become one of the club’s most consistent attacking threats. Across the 2025–2026 Liga MX season, he made 33 appearances, scoring 3 goals and adding 7 assists.
His combination of dribbling ability, chance creation, and international experience makes him a key asset for Juárez.
For the Panama national team, Rodríguez has earned 66 caps and scored 8 international goals, with his debut coming in 2018 and his most prolific international year being 2024 when he scored 3 goals in 9 appearances.
José Luis Rodríguez Net Worth Details
As of 2026, José Luis Rodríguez has an estimated net worth of $1.5 million.
He built this wealth through a decade-long professional career spanning Panama, Belgium, Croatia, Spain, Portugal, Serbia, and Mexico — earning wages at each step that steadily increased as his market value and profile grew.
Contract
Rodríguez joined FC Juárez on a permanent basis on July 1, 2025, with his contract running until June 30, 2028.
The three-year deal gives him long-term stability in Mexico’s top flight and reflects the club’s confidence in him as a first-choice wide attacker.
For a player of his age and profile in Liga MX, a contract of this length is a strong signal of his standing at the club.
Salary
Capology lists Rodríguez’s salary profile as requiring a subscription to view specific figures, which means no publicly verified annual wage is available.
Based on comparable Liga MX wingers with similar market values and international profiles tracked by ESPN’s FC Juárez player database, a reasonable estimate for his annual salary at FC Juárez falls in the range of $350,000–$500,000 USD per year.
This aligns with Liga MX salary norms for an established international winger with a Transfermarkt market value of approximately €1.8–2.6 million.
Career Earnings By Year
| Season | Club | League | Est. Annual Earnings |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2015–2016 | Chorrillo | LPF (Panama) | Minimal / amateur |
| 2016–2018 | Gent II | Belgian Pro League B | ~$40,000–60,000 |
| 2018 | Istra 1961 | Croatian HNL | ~$50,000 |
| 2019–2020 | Alavés B / Alavés | La Liga / Segunda | ~$80,000–120,000 |
| 2020–2021 | Lugo (loan) | Segunda División | ~$100,000 |
| 2021–2022 | Sporting Gijón (loan) | Segunda División | ~$120,000 |
| 2022–2024 | Famalicão | Primeira Liga | ~$200,000–300,000/yr |
| 2024–2025 | Red Star Belgrade / Juárez | SuperLiga / Liga MX | ~$350,000 |
| 2025–2026 | FC Juárez | Liga MX | ~$400,000–500,000 |
Career Statistics
Club Career
| Club | Season | Apps | Goals | Assists |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Chorrillo | 2015–2016 | 16 | 1 | — |
| Gent II | 2016–2018 | — | — | — |
| Istra 1961 | 2018 | — | — | — |
| Alavés B / Alavés | 2019–2022 | — | — | — |
| Lugo (loan) | 2020–2021 | — | — | — |
| Sporting Gijón (loan) | 2021–2022 | — | — | — |
| Famalicão | 2022–2024 | — | — | — |
| Red Star Belgrade | 2024–2025 | — | — | — |
| FC Juárez | 2025–2026 | 33 | 3 | 7 |
International Career
| Year | Apps | Goals |
|---|---|---|
| 2018 | 10 | 0 |
| 2019 | 8 | 0 |
| 2021 | 14 | 2 |
| 2022 | 8 | 0 |
| 2023 | 4 | 2 |
| 2024 | 9 | 3 |
| 2025 | 13 | 1 |
| Total | 66 | 8 |
FAQs
What is José Luis Rodríguez’s net worth?
His estimated net worth in 2026 is $1.5 million, built through professional contracts across Panama, Belgium, Spain, Portugal, Serbia, and Mexico over more than a decade.
Which club does José Luis Rodríguez play?
He plays for FC Juárez in Liga MX. He joined the club permanently on July 1, 2025, and his contract runs until June 30, 2028.
How many goals has José Luis Rodríguez scored for Panama?
He has scored 8 international goals in 66 appearances for the Panama national team as of the end of the 2025 calendar year.
What is José Luis Rodríguez’s market value?
His market value on Transfermarkt stands at approximately €1.80–2.60 million as of 2026, reflecting his consistent performances in Liga MX and strong international record.
Why is José Luis Rodríguez called “Puma”?
He earned the nickname for his explosive pace and powerful style on the wing. The name followed him from Panama through every European league he played in and has become his universally recognised football identity.
