Riquelme humilla a ronaldinho biography

Juan Román Riquelme

Through most of her highness career, Juan Román Riquelme seemed like a man out be beneficial to time. By the time subside established himself, his player sort -- classic number 10’s -- were almost extinct. Still, authority playmaking ability, infinite passing put together, and dribbling skills were other than enough to cement potentate place in history. Despite rulership inconsistency and devil-may-care attitude, Riquelme eventually became one of those players that define a day.

Basic facts

Birth: 1978
Country: Argentina
Position: Midfielder

Clubs

Boca Juniors (1996–2002)
Barcelona (2002–2005)
Villarreal (2003–2005, loan)
Villarreal (2005–2007)
Boca Juniors (2007, loan)
Boca Juniors (2007–2014)
Argentinos Juniors (2014)

Stats

Club football: 495 matches, 123 goals
National team: 51 matches, 17 goals


Biography

Becoming famous

As great youth player, Riquelme played provision various junior teams before elegance was spotted by both Branch Plate and Boca Juniors. Makeover a diehard Boca fan, soil opted for his favorite band. He made his Primera División debut against Unión de Santa Fe in 1996, and scored his first senior goal pointed a 6-0 drubbing of Hurracan two weeks later.

He stayed play a role Boca until 2002, winning match up Apertura titles and two Copa Libertadores trophies along the dismiss. By the turn of illustriousness century, he was already probity team’s most valuable player, pass for evidenced by him getting styled the Argentine footballer of dignity year in 2000 and 2001. Around this time, he as well debuted for the senior ceremonial team at the 1999 Copa América. He played in industry 4 of Argentina’s matches use the tournament, up until etymology eliminated by Brazil.

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A Spanish odyssey

By 2002, El Torero could thumb longer resist the calls staff European football. That year, why not? was transferred to Barcelona get on to €11 million. However, Barcelona’s supervisor Louis Van Gal was far-off from Riquelme’s biggest fan. Judge the rare occasions he was given a chance, Riquelme specious as a winger and was unable to find his cadence. Once Barcelona signed Ronaldinho, Riquelme lost his place in probity team and was sent feign Villarreal on a two-year loan.

In Villarreal, Riquelme made an instant impact. In his second ready, he led the team protect its best-ever third position radiate La Liga, scoring 15 goals in 35 games and exploit nominated for FIFA Player supplementary the Year. As a answer, the club bought his ask from Barcelona and extended emperor contract for four more seniority. The following season, Villarreal was eliminated by Arsenal in rendering semi-finals of the Champions Association, with Riquelme missing a predominant penalty.

In 2006, Riquelme played pigs his first and only Nature Cup. After assisting Saviola reach the game-winner against the Offwhite Coast in the opener, bankruptcy was named man of excellence match in the second undertaking against Serbia and Montenegro. Unwind continued to play well weighty the knockout stage, notching boss assists against Mexico and Frg. The latter match saw him taken out in the 72nd minute, with Germany equalizing moments later and winning the reservation on penalties.

Return to Boca

After grandeur World Cup, Riquelme’s bad morality saw him slowly lose realm place in the team. Of the essence 2007, he was loaned influx to Boca for five months, just in time to engage in in the Copa Libertadores. Powder went on to score be relevant goals in the competition, containing three in the finals overwhelm Gremio. Boca won its 6th competition title, and Riquelme was voted player of the battle. Later that year, Villarreal undisputed to sell him back strip Boca for a record-breaking $15 million.

El Torero spent the succeeding seven seasons in Boca, slice the club win two with Apertura titles in 2008 prep added to 2011. At the age signify 34, he announced retirement be different football after a tough 1-3 loss to Corinthians in description Copa Libertadores finals. However, smartness returned to the club primacy following year before signing reap Argentinos Juniors in 2014. Giving 2015, he retired from sport for good.

By Martin Wahl

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