Richard Ríos: A Colombian Star on the Rise
Colombia had a phenomenal Copa America 2024, setting up a date with Argentina in the finals after beating Uruguay. Their dominant campaign was preceded by a 5-1 win against the USA and featured a 5-0 win against Panama, as well a 3-0 win against Costa Rica. Despite exceeding expectations and playing great football, they fell to Argentina in extra time in the final. The tournament has put the spotlight on multiple Colombian players, and Richard Ríos is one of them. He’s been linked to multiple clubs in the Premier League. Let’s take a look at his career.
Richard Ríos was born on June 2, 2000, in Medellín, Colombia. From a young age, Ríos started developing an interest in football and played in local matches. He then started playing futsal professionally. While it is very similar to football, the game is played at a faster pace in a smaller space, which helped him improve and become better in high-pressure and tight situations. After developing as a player in futsal, Ríos transitioned to professional football by joining the prestigious Flamengo academy in Brazil in 2020.
At the age of 20, Ríos was one of the older players in the academy and overcame difficult challenges to earn his first-team chances. He made three appearances for the first team in 2020 and four appearances in 2021. Unable to meet the standards of Brazil’s top club, Ríos was sent out on loan to Mazatlán in Liga MX to get some game time and continue his development. The loan proved to be underwhelming as Ríos only made six appearances in the 2021-22 Liga MX season.
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Richard Ríos moved to Guarani in the Brazilian Serie B in 2021 on a free transfer. This was a significant move for the improvement of his career. Guarani’s coach at the time, Daniel Paulista, reflected on Ríos’s potential, saying, “Richard came to us as a player eager to prove himself. He had a lot of raw talent, and we believed with the right guidance, he could really blossom here.”
In his first season in the second tier of Brazil, Ríos managed to make nine appearances and showed good signs. He went on to start 10 games in the Paulista A1 2023, contributing two goals and an assist. He created 10 chances, completed 15 dribbles, won 17 tackles, 71 duels, and completed 57 recoveries, establishing himself as a high-potential defensive and box-to-box midfielder. This led to his transfer to Palmeiras in March 2023 for a reported fee of around €1 million.
Abel Ferreira, the Palmeiras head coach, praised Ríos’s adaptability and skill set upon his arrival, noting, “Richard is a versatile player who can fit into several roles in midfield. His ability to both defend and attack makes him a valuable asset for any team. We are excited to see what he brings to our squad.”
After returning to the Brazilian Serie A, Ríos played 37 matches, contributing two goals and an assist. He played 41 accurate long balls, completed 46 dribbles, and had 1,192 touches. Defensively, he was great, completing 33 tackles, 150 duels, and 130 recoveries. His run of good performances helped him make appearances in cup games, the Copa Libertadores, and the World Cup CONMEBOL qualification.
In 2024, the spotlight was on Ríos after Colombia had a dream campaign in Copa America 2024, where they made it to the finals. His ability to be aggressive and win the ball back caught the eyes of the fans. Colombia’s national team coach, Néstor Lorenzo, highlighted his contribution during the tournament, stating, “Richard was instrumental in our Copa America run.
His presence in midfield gave us stability and allowed us to transition quickly from defense to attack.” He displayed good agility, skill, and was comfortable dribbling and progressing the ball in the middle of the pitch. Ríos also has great vision and a good range of passing to find his teammates from deep areas. This versatility allows him to adapt to various midfield roles, making him a valuable asset to any team.
While he received a lot of attention in the transfer market after the Copa America from top clubs in Europe, including Manchester United, the hype around him has dimmed somewhat, but at 24, he’s still got plenty of time to make the move across the Atlantic. With a contract until December 2026, it’s seemingly only a matter of time before Ríos follows in the footsteps of Endrick, Estêvão and Luis Guilherme and becomes the latest Palmeiras player to secure a move to one of the biggest leagues in Europe.
By: @TSpec1al
Featured Image: @GabFoligno / Ezra Shaw / Getty Images