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Riquelme doesn’t get the credit he deserves mainly because he never excelled at an elite european club, people are ignorant about his time at Boca & falsely believe he lacked consistency.
But his peak level is up there with the very best to have ever played in his position. https://twitter.com/roynemer/status/1351589168976171009
But his peak level is up there with the very best to have ever played in his position. https://twitter.com/roynemer/status/1351589168976171009
Less known to many out side South America, Riquelme was in fact performing at an exceptionally high (World Class) level as far back as 1999.
In 2000, vs Real Madrid he produced one the single greatest midfield performances this century.
In 2000, vs Real Madrid he produced one the single greatest midfield performances this century.
By this point Riquelme was one of the best footballers on the planet.
He was much more mobile & agile in his early days too.
This performance vs Palmeiras in the 2001 Libertadores semi final is a masterpiece
He was much more mobile & agile in his early days too.
This performance vs Palmeiras in the 2001 Libertadores semi final is a masterpiece
Criminally left out of the Argentina squad by Marcelo Bielsa who he believed didn’t fit into his footballing philosophy. Riquelme wasn’t included in the 2002 World Cup squad. Despite being the best footballer in South America.
Another reason perhaps for people’s criticism of Roman is his ‘failed’ year at Barcelona.
Played often out of position, outwide or on the bench, Van Gaal tried to turn Riquelme into something he was not.
Played often out of position, outwide or on the bench, Van Gaal tried to turn Riquelme into something he was not.
The remarkable thing about Riquelme is that he was as unique as it gets. A footballer in the purest sense, THE ENGANCHE, yet far from an individualist. He brought out the best in everyone around him. His teams where built entirely around him, playing precisely to his rhythm.
In an era today, focusing heavily on speed & strength, perhaps modern managers have decided that they can’t take risks with a player of this nature, a potential passenger, offering little in shape or off the ball. What if he has an off day?
I would argue the contrary.
I would argue the contrary.
I feel the common misconception around Riquelme is that he’s perceived as some sort of flawed genius, a number 10 who drifted in and out of games, capable of moments of magic, but didn’t do it often enough. And on a bad day, perhaps ‘didn’t want to know’ - Ozil esque.
From what I’ve seen that couldn’t be further from the truth
He was a player who dictated the flow of games, demanded the ball in every situation, a player with a huge personality, often the teams primary passer, not some uninterested passenger
Example
He was a player who dictated the flow of games, demanded the ball in every situation, a player with a huge personality, often the teams primary passer, not some uninterested passenger
Example
Between 2005-2007 Riquelme was the single best midfielder on the planet. In 2007 quite possibly the best footballer on the planet
In those three years he was arguably a top 3 performer in 3 consecutive International tournaments
2005 Confed Cup
2006 World Cup
2007 Copa America
In those three years he was arguably a top 3 performer in 3 consecutive International tournaments
2005 Confed Cup
2006 World Cup
2007 Copa America
In 2005 he completely dominated a strong England side before being substituted at 2-1.
Argentina would lose 3-2.
Argentina would lose 3-2.
A year later and the same thing would happen at the World Cup. Argentina were beating Germany, Riquelme came off and they would crash out on penalties.
Despite having a young but brilliant Messi, Veron & Aimar it was Riquelme who Argentina were built entirely around.
Despite having a young but brilliant Messi, Veron & Aimar it was Riquelme who Argentina were built entirely around.
VILLARREAL
Riquelme’s influence on Villarreal, their performance and remarkable UCL run isn’t talked about enough.
The 2005/06 season saw a Villarreal side play possibly the best football in Europe with a certain someone pulling all the strings.
Riquelme’s influence on Villarreal, their performance and remarkable UCL run isn’t talked about enough.
The 2005/06 season saw a Villarreal side play possibly the best football in Europe with a certain someone pulling all the strings.
Riquelme dropped masterclass after masterclass in his years at El Madrigal. Playing his own game at his own pace.
His performance vs Everton during UCL qualifying made them look like an amateur side. The difference in levels was staggering.
His performance vs Everton during UCL qualifying made them look like an amateur side. The difference in levels was staggering.
In 2005 he ran the show at the Bernabeu
His performance vs Rangers in the UCL last 16 is one of the best ever witnessed at Ibrox in modern history.
And vs Inter Milan he ran a midfield of Veron, Cambiasso, Stankovic & Figo ragged.
His performance vs Rangers in the UCL last 16 is one of the best ever witnessed at Ibrox in modern history.
And vs Inter Milan he ran a midfield of Veron, Cambiasso, Stankovic & Figo ragged.
He did the same again vs Arsenal in the Semi final. One of the great UCL performances, until he missed the crucial penalty to take the tie into extra time. Tight margins.
In 2005 a Brazil midfield with Emerson, Kaká & Ronaldinho was no problem for him either.
In 2005 a Brazil midfield with Emerson, Kaká & Ronaldinho was no problem for him either.
He ran the game from start to finish. His goal exquisite too.
Between 2003/06, he registered 118 Goals + Assists. Remarkably he was directly involved in over 48% of team goals
No midfielder in modern history comes close to that level of influence.
Between 2003/06, he registered 118 Goals + Assists. Remarkably he was directly involved in over 48% of team goals
No midfielder in modern history comes close to that level of influence.
2007 would be Riquelme’s best year of all perhaps.
He returned to Boca scoring in both legs of the Copa Libertadores final, winning the trophy. Again producing one of the tournaments best ever performances away vs Grêmio.
He returned to Boca scoring in both legs of the Copa Libertadores final, winning the trophy. Again producing one of the tournaments best ever performances away vs Grêmio.
For Argentina he would score 9 goals in 9 games providing 5 Assists. Taking them to the Copa América final.
The third time in 3 years he dominated an international tournament.
Colombia could do nothing about Roman at his best here
The third time in 3 years he dominated an international tournament.
Colombia could do nothing about Roman at his best here
That same year vs Chile he would score two free-kicks in the same game. Not something you see everyday.
In 2007 he scored 19 goals & picked up 16 assists in 35 games. A goal or assist every 85 minutes.
In 2007 he scored 19 goals & picked up 16 assists in 35 games. A goal or assist every 85 minutes.
A decade of playing football at the very highest level.
Forget his style or aesthetics. At his very best Riquelme was untouchable on a football field, even amongst the worlds best. It was his ball and he was letting everyone else play with it.
Forget his style or aesthetics. At his very best Riquelme was untouchable on a football field, even amongst the worlds best. It was his ball and he was letting everyone else play with it.
Many of his individual performances should go down as some of the greatest seen in modern times. He isn’t just under appreciated, he’s criminally underrated. Many that have seen him in the flesh describe him as the best they ever saw.
Juan Roman Riquelme wasn’t some luxury albeit talented footballer.
He shared a football pitch with names like Xavi, Iniesta, Makelele, Gerrard, Lampard, Fabregas, Emerson, Ballack - the elite of the elite.
And they couldn’t lay a finger on him.
He shared a football pitch with names like Xavi, Iniesta, Makelele, Gerrard, Lampard, Fabregas, Emerson, Ballack - the elite of the elite.
And they couldn’t lay a finger on him.
His personality, forward thinking, demanding the ball, getting the best out of everyone around him, the variety and range in his passing, and then the technique.
There isn’t a midfielder in today that comes close to Riquelme at his very best. And not many before him either.
There isn’t a midfielder in today that comes close to Riquelme at his very best. And not many before him either.
Zidane’s last ever game for Real Madrid. It was the Argentine who ran the show. Zidane would wait for Riquelme after the game to swap shirts with him.
Riquelme’s 2006 World Cup Highlights.
Before he was substituted vs Germany Riquelme he was possibly the player of the tournament up to that point. His performance vs Serbia a clinic in ball progression.
Before he was substituted vs Germany Riquelme he was possibly the player of the tournament up to that point. His performance vs Serbia a clinic in ball progression.
Even the great Leo Messi has failed to take on the ‘Riquelme burden’ at national team level (Argentina are clearly using Messi wrong + it’s not his skillset) but when applied in the same role he doesn’t make the team function & flow quite like they did when Roman was there.
Here’s Bayern Munich in 2001 trying to contain Riquelme. Swarming and fouling him at every opportunity.
Here he is toying with a very strong Vasco side in the 2001 Libertadores
Grêmio couldn’t get close to him in the 2007 Libertadores final. His 2 goals away in the 2nd leg grabbed the headlines. The first leg was every bit as impressive.
Here’s a link to some of his match comps https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLzGoqY6wvr53bqxrpp-ku3kj8GSkmv0CJ
https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLzGoqY6wvr53bqxrpp-ku3kj8GSkmv0CJ
Here’s a link to 142 of his games. Would highly recommend Rangers, Inter & Arsenal in the UCL 2006 & anything in 2007 for Boca or Argentina.
https://footballia.net/players/juan-roman-riquelme
https://footballia.net/players/juan-roman-riquelme
