Deco Net Worth 2025

What is Deco’s Net Worth?

Deco has a net worth of $25 million. His fortune was built during a highly successful 17-year career as a professional footballer and has been solidified by his post-playing ventures, first as a prominent player agent and currently as the sporting director for FC Barcelona.

During his playing days, Deco commanded significant salaries and transfer fees. He was one of the few players to win the UEFA Champions League with two different clubs, Porto and Barcelona. His transfer from Porto to Barcelona in 2004 was valued at €15 million. Later, in 2008, he moved to Chelsea for a €10 million fee. At Chelsea, his contract was reportedly worth £92,000 per week after taxes, placing him among the Premier League’s high earners at the time.

After retiring, Deco founded the D20 Sports Management agency, which successfully managed the careers of several high-profile players, including Raphinha and Fabinho, generating substantial commission income. In 2023, he transitioned to a top-level executive role at his former club, FC Barcelona, where he holds one of the most powerful positions in world football.

Early Life

Deco was born Anderson Luís de Souza in São Bernardo do Campo, Brazil. He began his football journey in the youth ranks of Nacional (SP) before moving to Corinthians. In 1997, at age 19, he was scouted and signed by the Portuguese giants Benfica. However, he did not immediately break into their first team and was sent on loan to Alverca, which was then serving as Benfica’s farm team.

After a loan spell at Salgueiros, Deco was acquired by FC Porto in 1999. It was in Porto that he would develop into a world-class talent and make the pivotal decision of his international career. In 2002, after completing five years of residence, he became a Portuguese citizen.

Career

His playing career took off at FC Porto. Under manager José Mourinho, Deco became the creative engine of the team. He was the key player in Porto’s 2002–03 UEFA Cup victory and their stunning 2003–04 UEFA Champions League title win, scoring the second goal in the 3-0 final victory over Monaco. His performance that season earned him the UEFA Club Footballer of the Year award.

This success led to his high-profile move to FC Barcelona in 2004. Alongside stars like Ronaldinho, Samuel Eto’o, and a young Lionel Messi, Deco was central to the team’s revival. He helped Barcelona win two consecutive La Liga titles (2004–05, 2005–06) and won his second Champions League trophy in 2006.

In 2008, Deco joined Chelsea, winning the Premier League in the 2009–10 season and two FA Cups. He finished his playing career in his birth country of Brazil with Fluminense, where he won two Brazilian league titles before retiring in 2013. Internationally, he was a mainstay for the Portugal national team, earning 75 caps and helping them reach the final of Euro 2004.

D20 Sports Agency

Following his retirement from football, Deco leveraged his extensive network and knowledge of the game to found D20 Sports. This agency specialized in player management and representation, primarily focusing on talent from Portugal and Brazil.

D20 Sports grew into a significant firm, with a client list that included Liverpool’s Fabinho and, most notably, Raphinha. Deco successfully navigated Raphinha’s career from Leeds United to FC Barcelona in 2022. At its peak, his agency managed a portfolio of players valued at over €130 million. In June 2023, Deco announced that D20 Sports would cease its career management activities to avoid any conflict of interest with his new role.

Barcelona Sporting Director

In August 2023, Deco returned to FC Barcelona in an official executive capacity, signing a three-season contract as the club’s sporting director. He took over the role from Mateu Alemany, assuming full responsibility for the club’s sporting philosophy, squad planning, and transfer negotiations. This position places him in charge of all football operations at one of the world’s largest clubs.