Who is the Colombian breakout player, Richard Ríos?

It is no mystery that Colombia is one of the top teams at this summer’s 2024 Copa América. The Cafeteros’ good form is a result of different factors: James Rodríguez has regained his place as the number 10 and captain of the team; Luis Díaz is a menace in attack; Jhon Arias has been the engine between the midfielders and attackers; while Daniel Muñoz is showing his versatility both attacking and defending. However, within this effective mechanism, one component has quietly became a crucial cog throughout the tournament. His name is Richard Ríos.

With his ability to maneuver the ball in tight spaces and contribute to Colombia’s defense-attack and attack-defense game transitions, the midfielder has secured his spot in coach Nestor Lorenzo’s starting XI. Although his trajectory and formative process seem to be the same as most soccer players, the truth is that before playing 11-a-side, he was first a futsal player! Let’s take a look at Richard Ríos’s story and find out where he is playing now.

When did Richard Ríos start playing futsal?

Born in Vegachí, Antioquia (Colombia), in 2000, Ríos began playing futsal at a young age in the streets of his town. In the middle of a difficult economic situation due to the lack of opportunities for young people, sport appeared as a new door in his life. He played in the Liga Argos’s futsal tournament with Alianza Platanera, with whom he ended up as champions. Rios’s good performances saw him get the call up to Colombia’s squad in the CONMEBOL’s Under-20 futsal tournament in 2018, held in Brazil.

During the tournament, Richard drew the attention of Brazilian scouts, who encouraged him to go to the trials with Flamengo’s youth squad. “I left everything in Colombia and came with a backpack (to Brazil) to fulfill my dream,” the Colombian said in an interview.

Which was Rios’s first soccer club?

Ríos was accepted into Flamengo’s youth squad and debuted with the Mengaos’ first team in January 2020 at the Campeonato Carioca. He had to wait until September to make his first appearance at the Brazileirao, when a COVID outbreak within the squad forced Spanish coach Domènec Torrent to call academy players up for the match against Palmeiras.

For the 2021/22 season, the youngster was loaned to Mexican club Mazatlán. However, he missed most of the Liga MX Apertura and Clausura games due to a knee injury, and Mazatlán decided not to trigger the option to buy the player. He therefore returned to Flamengo for the 2022/23 season, only to discover that the Brazilian club had decided to end his contract.

Where is Richard Ríos playing now?

That same transfer window Ríos joined Brazilian second division club, Guaraní, in search of playing time. On October 11, he scored his first professional goal against Club Regatas and became a crucial player for his side. His excellent form drew the attention of first-division club Palmeiras, who signed him on March 28, 2023.

Step by step, the Colombian midfielder earned his spot in the starting XI, debuted at the Copa Libertadores against Bolivar, and was an essential piece in Palmeiras’s 2023 Brazileirao title team. He is still under contract with the Verdaos and last season played 29 games with the club before being called up by Lorenzo for the Copa América.

How many matches has Richard Ríos played for Colombia’s national team?

His debut with Colombia’s first team was on October 12 during the 2026 World Cup Qualifiers against Uruguay; Ríos replaced Matheus Uribe in the 68th minute of the game.

He has played 11 games with the national team and scored two goals, the last of which was against Panama in the quarterfinals of the Copa America.