The last of the classic playmakers — Juan Román Riquelme's slow, deliberate style, his ability to control the tempo of a game from his false-nine or enganche position, and his precision passing made him the last great representative of a football tradition that has since been largely replaced by pressing and intensity. Copa Libertadores winner with Boca Juniors and one of Argentina's most celebrated players despite never winning a World Cup, his performances in domestic football and in the Copa América were of consistent quality across a decade. The 2004 Copa Libertadores and his individual performances for Boca represent the apex of South American football's most aesthetically rich tradition
Football at the highest level rewards technical mastery, physical conditioning and the mental fortitude to perform consistently across a long and unrelenting career. Career highlights included Copa Libertadores 2x (Boca), Copa América 2005, 97 Argentina caps. The true measure of a great football athlete is the ability to perform consistently over an extended period, and Juan's career record demonstrates precisely that quality of sustained excellence. Few athletes in football have combined consistency and peak performance as effectively, and across such an extended period, as Juan managed throughout his career. The standard Juan Román Riquelme set across his career in football reflects the level of preparation, tactical intelligence and competitive focus that consistently separates the truly elite from the rest of the field. The dedication required to perform consistently in football at international level defined every aspect of Juan Román Riquelme's approach to the sport.
Copa Libertadores 2x (Boca)
He is widely considered the last of the great traditional No.10 playmakers — a style of footballer considered almost extinct in the modern game.
Did You Know?Career Honours
- Copa Libertadores 2x (Boca)
- Copa América 2005
- 97 Argentina caps