The Rock ‘n’ Roll Story of Darío Dubois: A Metalhead Among the Argentine Soccer Establishment | OneFootball

Darío Dubois is a player of urban legend in Argentina — a symbol of times gone by and a voice of rebellion that Argentines are famously known for. Dubois spent his entire career in the lower divisions, but became famous for his outspoken nature, the black metal makeup he wore while playing, his defiance of sponsorships, and the mystery surrounding his death.

In a time when United States soccer circles are buzzing about promotion and relegation, underdog stories of lower-division clubs reaching the top of the pyramid have become quite romanticized.

Lower division clubs in countries like England and Argentina boast a rich tapestry of stories. Many of these teams have had legendary players, formed the social fabric of their communities, or simply held a special place in the lore of their country.

Take Argentinian side Club Atlético Kimberley of Mar del Plata, who became famous during the 1978 FIFA World Cup for dressing the French national team. The French Federation didn’t bring the correct kits to face Hungary and were forced to wear Kimberley’s green and white uniforms in a 3-1 win. One of those kits is in the FIFA museum; the others have vanished, fueling speculation and legend about where they ended up.

Then there’s the unique story of Darío Dubois. To understand the central defender, it’s essential to grasp where Argentine music and culture stood at the time. Dubois played in the mid-’90s, an era defined by a massive rock movement in the country.

Argentina has a long relationship with rock music, with many Argentines having deep devotions to bands like The Rolling Stones and The Beatles, along with local icons like Los Redondos and Los Piojos. The mid-’90s was the peak of Argentine rock culture, with countless acts popping up from all corners of the country.

It was during this era that a young Dubois debuted for Yupanqui in Primera D, the fifth and lowest division of Argentine soccer. His soccer career wasn’t anything remarkable on paper: 146 games and 13 goals across nine clubs from 1994 to 2005. The “biggest” club he played for was Deportivo Riestra — today in the Primera División — more famous for fielding a streamer in a professional match than for any sporting achievements.

Dubois’ fame didn’t come from his performance on the pitch, but rather from what he did off of it — most notably, his public disdain for the corporatized nature of pro soccer, once telling TyC Sports, “I hate professional soccer.”

A Black Metal Rebel of the Argentine Establishment

What made Dubois a cult figure in Argentina were his off-field antics and bold statements. He became known for playing professional games while wearing black metal face paint — a symbolic act to draw attention to himself and to the poor conditions under which lower-division players were forced to compete, often on fields that were little more than dirt patches.

He played a total of 17 matches with this look before the AFA issued a ban on face paint in official games.

Dubois would also use his long hair to cover his face during team photos — a silent protest to show he didn’t want to be part of the system. In one infamous incident, when a referee showed him a red card, money fell out of the ref’s pocket. Dubois picked it up and ran, with all four match officials chasing him across the field to retrieve the cash.

Legend has it that 1,500 Argentine pesos (around $1,000 USD back then) was “pay off money” although that has never been confirmed.

Dubois later told TyC Sports, “I picked it up and said, ‘Yeah man, now I have what my club owes me [in back pay].’ I’m saved for five months.” He’d return the money, saving himself from a potential fine.

Perhaps the most defiant act of his career was systematically covering the sponsors on his club’s kit. This was a protest against sponsors who owed money to the clubs he played for. Dubois would use bandages or even smear dirt on his jersey to obscure the logos.

During the era when he wore face paint, his matches started drawing significant crowds, as fans — long before the internet boom — had heard about “the rocker in metal makeup.”

His most legendary moment came while playing for Deportivo Riestra in 2000. After helping the club avoid relegation, he threw his jersey and shorts into the crowd. Dubois, who didn’t wear underwear while playing, walked off the field completely naked, covering himself only with his boots.

His career came to an end in 2005 while playing for Deportivo Paraguayo. After suffering a ligament injury in his knee and lacking the funds to pay for surgery, Dubois decided to retire.

A Passion for Music

Dubois once admitted that if he could’ve played any sport other than soccer, he would have — citing corruption and the mistreatment of players as the worst parts of his career.

Like many players in Argentina’s lower divisions, Dubois had a second job. He was a sound operator and played in metal tribute bands both during and after his soccer career. Soccer was simply a way to make ends meet — not his true passion, which was music and more specifically metal rock.

After retiring, he worked as a sound operator, a job he held until one tragic night in March 2008.

A Tragic End and Mystery Surrounding His Death

In early March 2008, after finishing his shift as a sound operator at a nightclub, Dubois was riding his bike home when he was approached — reportedly during a robbery attempt — and was shot in the leg and stomach.

The gunshots didn’t kill him immediately. He survived for nearly two weeks in the hospital, but eventually passed away at the age of 37. Since his death, murals have been painted in his honor. Some believe his death wasn’t a robbery gone wrong but “payback” for being outspoken about corruption and the harsh realities of Argentina’s lower leagues.

Despite being a night owl and metalhead, Dubois was known for his discipline. He always arrived on time for training and lived a clean life. He once said:

“I don’t like playing. I do it because it’s competitive and I can spend my time training. I don’t eat red meat, I don’t drink alcohol or take drugs. I’ve never done any of those things. I play football. And the few cents I get for playing come in handy; my financial situation is disastrous.”

Darío Dubois was a trending topic long before the world knew what that meant. And like many rockers, he was gone too soon. For Dubois, life was rock ‘n’ roll with a soccer ball.