Growing up in Don Torcuato, Riquelme grew up in a family of ten in strict poverty. Argentine giants Boca Juniors and River Plate spotted him when he was a youth player for Argentinos Juniors. He chose to move to Boca in 1995 as he had grown up supporting them. The club paid US$800,000 for his signature. A year later, on November 10, 1996, Romy played his first professional match (Boca Juniors 2 - 0 Unión de Santa Fe) and two weeks later he scored his first senior goal (Boca Juniors 6 - 0 Huracán).
In 2002, after seven successful seasons with Boca Juniors, the central midfielder was transferred t0 FC Barcelona for a reported £10 million. It's predicted that this would be a new challenge for him and he would take it well. However, this is a tough stage for him. Shortly after his departure from Boca, his brother, Cristian, was kidnapped. Riquelme negotiated for his brother's release and eventually paid the ransom. He has stated before this was one of the reasons why he chose to leave Boca although it has also been noted Riquelme was in dispute with Boca over his contract at the time. Instead, his arrival and his time at barcelona was a disaster for him. Due to the club's struggling fortunes, there was intense pressure on Riquelme to perform well. The coach of Barca at that moment was Luis Van Gaal and he describe him as a political signing. He used him on rare occasions and put him on the flank ( his best position is to play as the middle area that behind the striker) and this had done some damages to him. He was unable to find his form during a period of largely substitute appearances, losing his place in the first team as well as his confidence. After somewhile, the coach put him into the B-team and he made appeareance in Spanish King's Cup and Champions league which he is able to play at his best position and produce some stunning football that attracts fans to find out what is he capable of, included almost solo 1-0 win over Anderlecht. However, his general playing form made him redundant, and he was loaned to Villareal a year later.
At Villarreal he was surrounded by fellow Latin and South American players, including fellow Argentine international and captain Juan Pablo Sorin . Expectations were also much lower at Villarreal and Riquelme began to display the talents that now make him so sought after.
Riquelme' is often cited as the main factor in Villarreal's ascendancy in La Liga and the UEFA Champions League through the 2004-05 and 2005-06 seasons. At the end of the 2004-05 campaign, Spanish sports newspaper Marca awarded him the title of Artistic Player. As a result of his influential play, he earned a nomination for the FiFa World Player of The Year 2005 award. In an effort to keep hold of him, Villareal bought up 75% of Riquelme's rights from Barcelona for 5 million Euros, and gave the player a 4-year contract.
It's almost a nice good ending for Riquelme but a misunderstanding between the coach Pellegrini and Riquelme cost him the starting line up and the coach expressed to the press that he would never play him during his day as the coach of Villareal. Riquelme was loaned to Boca Juniors of Argentina at January of 2007 and there he is back to his best and lead Boca to Copa Libertadores 2007, scoring against Vélez Sársfield in the round of 16, Club Libertad in the quarter finals and Cúcuta Deportivo in the semis, earning Boca a place in the finals. In the first leg of the final against Grêmio, Riquelme scored a goal and in the return leg, scored two more, crowning Boca as the 2007 Copa Libertadores Champions. He also won the award for the Copa Libertadores' Most Valuable Player.During the 2006 World Cup Riquelme was an integral part of the Argentina side which notably dispatched Serbia and Montenegro 6-0. They entered the second round in top form. However, they were defeated in the quarter-final by Germany on penalties, after a 1-1 draw after extra-time. Germany equalised moments after Riquelme was substituted off the pitch. Riquelme had delivered the corner from which Roberto Ayala scored Argentina's goal.
Following the loss of Argentina and Pekerman's resignation as head coach, Riquelme was tipped by many to take over the reins of skipper for the Albicelestes in place of the outgoing Sorín. However, after captaining the team for the first friendly match under new coach Alfio Basile, he announced on September 13,2006 his decision to retire from the "Selección". Even though praised by some, he claimed that the frequent critics from sectors of the press and public have negatively affected his mother's health, who was hospitalized twice in two months after the 2006 World Cup.
At that point, Riquelme had played 37 matches for Argentina, scoring 8 goals. He had also won the South American Youth Championship, and the Football World Youth Championship, both in 1997 with coach Jose Pekerman.
Riquelme has achieved alot and these are the honours that he gained so far.2007 Copa Libertadores' Most Valuable Player
2007 Copa Libertadores (Boca Juniors)
2006 Nominated for FIFA World Player of the Year
2005 Nominated for FIFA World Player of the Year
2004 UEFA Intertoto Cup (Villarreal CF)
2001 Copa Libertadores (Boca Juniors)
2001 South American Footballer of the Year
2000 Argentine Apertura Championship (Boca Juniors)
2000 Intercontinental Cup (Boca Juniors)
2000 Copa Libertadores (Boca Juniors)
1999 Argentine Clausura Championship (Boca Juniors)
1998 Argentine Apertura Championship (Boca Juniors)
1997 FIFA's World Youth Championship (under-20)
These are some stuns from the net about his skills and stunning performances, and some articles about riquelme
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=98YSGszcPy0
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