Riquelme to Messi: Stay in US and enjoy your football
Juan Roman Riquelme believes Lionel Messi should enjoy the remainder of his career away from the pressures of Argentine football.
Speaking exclusively to TyC Sports, the Boca Juniors president lavishly praised the superstar following the Argentina captain’s decision to retire from international football. Riquelme and Messi shared the national team dressing room between 2005 and 2009 and were part of the Argentina side that won Olympic gold at the 2008 Beijing Games.
Riquelme said Argentines should be grateful for everything Messi has given to the national team and football.
“I think we should thank him even more. What more could we ask of him, with everything he’s done? He’s fulfilled everything he dreamed of and everything we dreamed of,” Riquelme said.
“Without a doubt, I don’t know if he’s the best of all time, but he’s right up there. No football player has ever been the best for so many years. It’s incredible.”
Messi endured years of disappointment with Argentina before finally ending the wait for major international silverware. He went on to win the 2021 Copa America, the 2022 World Cup and the 2024 Copa America with the national team.
According to Riquelme, those achievements make Messi deserving of the affection he continues to receive from Argentine fans.
“He deserves all the love that Argentinians are giving him because he worked his fingers to the bone, suffered a lot, struggled to win at the beginning, and in the end, he achieved everything,” he said.
“God was fair to him, and that’s wonderful. Now let’s give him affection, give him love—which is what he deserves—and thank him for everything he has done for Argentine football and football itself.”
Riquelme also reflected on his close relationship with the Rosario-born superstar. Despite their years together with the national team, he said he wished they could have shared the pitch more often.
“I always talk to him; we have a very nice relationship. He loves me very much, and I love him very much,” Riquelme said.
“I would have loved to play much more alongside him, but I was lucky enough to be able to play with him; that’s unique. The affection and respect we have for each other is the greatest thing.”
Their friendship has remained strong long after Riquelme’s playing career ended. Messi attended Riquelme’s farewell match in 2023, further highlighting the bond between the two Argentine stars.
With Messi now playing his club football in the United States, Riquelme believes the 39-year-old should remain there rather than return to the intense environment of Argentine football.
Riquelme believes Argentines have been exceptionally fortunate to witness both Diego Maradona and Messi in successive generations.
“I’ll keep telling you the same thing: I don’t know if we’ll ever be lucky enough to have a player like him again. When Maradona died, we thought it would never happen again, and then someone just as good or even better came along,” he said.
“We Argentinians are very fortunate.”
With Messi now playing his club football in the United States, Riquelme believes the 39-year-old should remain there rather than return to the intense environment of Argentine football.
“Now, let him enjoy playing soccer in the United States for as long as he wants, and we Argentinians will always give him lots of affection and love, which is what he deserves,” he added.
For all latest news, follow The Daily Star's Google News channel. Riquelme later explained his reasoning in greater detail, arguing that Messi has already achieved everything he could have dreamed of with Argentina.
“I think that with what he experienced at the World Cup, he’s already happy. He’s unique, he’s irreplaceable,” Riquelme said.
“He had a very easy opportunity to play for the Spanish national team and he chose to play for our country. We have to leave him alone and let him play until he no longer wants to.”
“It’s better for him to stay in the United States and be a fan of all Argentine football fans,” he concluded.
Comments