Richard Ríos

Richard Ríos
Ríos with Palmeiras in 2024
Personal information
Full name Richard Ríos Montoya[1]
Date of birth (2000-06-02) 2 June 2000[1]
Place of birthVegachí, Colombia
Height 1.85 m (6 ft 1 in)[1]
PositionCentral midfielder
Team information
Current team
Benfica
Number 20
Youth career
2017–2018 Alianza Platanera (futsal)
2019–2020Flamengo
Senior career*
YearsTeamApps(Gls)
2020–2022Flamengo 7 (0)
2021–2022 → Mazatlán (loan) 6 (0)
2022–2023Guarani 20 (3)
2023–2025Palmeiras 99 (7)
2025–Benfica 16 (0)
International career‡
2023–Colombia 28 (2)
Medal record
Men's football
Representing  Colombia
Copa América
Runner-up2024 United States
* Club domestic league appearances and goals as of 20:19, 3 January 2025 (UTC)‡ National team caps and goals as of 18 November 2025 (UTC)

Richard Ríos Montoya (born 2 June 2000) is a Colombian professional footballer who plays as a central midfielder for Primeira Liga club Benfica and the Colombia national team. Ríos is renowned for his versatility and ball-winning ability.

After beginning his career in Brazil with Flamengo and Guarani, he moved to Palmeiras, where he won the Campeonato Brasileiro Série A in 2023 and the Campeonato Paulista in 2024. In 2025, he transferred to Benfica and won the Supertaça Cândido de Oliveira in his debut season.

Internationally, Ríos debuted for Colombia in 2022 and was part of the squad that finished runners-up at the 2024 Copa América.

Early life

Born in Vegachí, Ríos grew up poor in Colombia and saw sports as his path to a better life. He moved to Brazil to follow his dream of becoming a professional player, arriving with just a backpack.[2]

Club career

Early career

Ríos started his career playing futsal and attracted the interest of Flamengo during the 2018 South American Under-20 Football Championship. He was invited for a trial period at the Brazilian club and, after two months, Flamengo signed him to their youth team.[3]

Flamengo

In the beginning of the 2020 season, despite still playing in the youth team, Ríos was promoted to the professional team to play alongside reserve players and other youngsters in the first matches of the 2020 Campeonato Carioca.[4] He made his senior debut on 23 January 2020, coming on as a second-half substitute for Matheus Dantas in a 1–0 away win over Vasco da Gama.[5]

Ríos made his Série A debut on 27 September 2020, replacing Guilherme Bala in a 1–1 away draw against Palmeiras, as Flamengo was heavily impacted due to a COVID-19 outbreak in the squad. The following day, his contract was renewed until December 2021.[6]

On 21 June 2021, Ríos signed a contract extension with Flamengo until December 2023, on the same day the club announced his loan to Mexican club Mazatlán.[7]

Mazatlán (loan)

On 23 June 2021, Flamengo confirmed the one-year loan deal of Ríos to Mazatlán.[8] He made his debut for the club on 26 July, replacing Alfonso Sánchez in a 2–0 away win against Cruz Azul.

In September 2021, Ríos suffered a knee injury,[9] only returning to action the following April.[10] In May, after only six matches, Mazatlán opted to not exercise his US$ 1 million buyout clause, and he returned to Flamengo.[11]

Guarani

On 4 August 2022, Ríos terminated his contract with Flamengo, and signed a deal with Série B side Guarani until December 2023.[12] He scored his first professional goal on 11 October, netting the winner in a 1–0 home success over CRB.[13]

In the 2023 season, Ríos became a key unit at Bugre.[14]

Palmeiras

Ríos warming up for Palmeiras in 2024

On 28 March 2023, Ríos signed a contract with Palmeiras until the end of 2025, with an option for a further year.[15] The club paid R$ 6 million for 60% of his economic rights.[16]

Ríos arrived at Palmeiras under the sign of mistrust. Although he did well in Guarani in Paulistão, which aroused the interest of Palmeiras, there was the shadow that he left much to be desired. But the 23-year-old Rios began to steal the show, earning a starting spot, and winning the Brasileirão with the Verdão. In addition, he was the best dribbler in the competition.[17]

Benfica

On 22 July 2025, Primeira Liga side Benfica announced the signing of Ríos on a five-year contract.[18]

International career

On 12 October 2023, Ríos made his debut as a substitute for Mateus Uribe in the 67th minute of a 2–2 draw against Uruguay.[19] In the 2024 Copa América, he was a member of Colombia squad that finished as runner-up to Argentina.

Style of play

Developed as a midfielder, Ríos can perform in all midfield roles. With his good physique and excellent stamina, he can maintain a high pace throughout the match. With good individual technique, his ability to play in tight spaces is his trademark, as is his constant focus on building plays.[20]

Career statistics

Club

As of match played 14 January 2026[21]
Appearances and goals by club, season and competition
Club Season League State league[a]National cup[b]League cup[c]Continental Other Total
DivisionAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoals
Flamengo2020Série A102000—00—30
2021004000—00—40
Total 106000—00—70
Mazatlán (loan) 2021–22Liga MX60—————60
Guarani2022Série B91—————91
2023—112————112
Total 91112————203
Palmeiras2023Série A 372—61—10[d]0—533
202424314040—6[d]11[e]0494
202510014220—5[d]25[f]0364
Total 715282121—2136013811
Benfica2025–26Primeira Liga160—322010[g]11[h]0323
Career total 1036454153203147020317

International

As of match played 18 November 2025[20]
Appearances and goals by national team and year
National teamYearAppsGoals
Colombia202330
2024162
202590
Total282
Scores and results list Colombia's goal tally first.[20]
List of international goals scored by Richard Ríos
No.DateVenueOpponentScoreResultCompetition
1.8 June 2024Commanders Field, Landover, United States United States3–15–1Friendly
2.6 July 2024State Farm Stadium, Glendale, United States Panama4–05–02024 Copa América

Honours

Flamengo

Palmeiras

Benfica

Individual

References

  1. ^ abc"FIFA Club World Cup 2025™ – Squad List: Palmeiras (BRA)"(PDF). FIFA. 4 July 2025. p. 25. Archived(PDF) from the original on 13 July 2025. Retrieved 18 July 2025.
  2. ^V, Sanjay Kumar (1 July 2025). "Nottingham Forest make contact with Tottenham target impressing at the Club World Cup". To The Lane And Back. Retrieved 1 July 2025.
  3. ^"Flamengo contrata talento colombiano do futsal como aposta para categorias de base no campo" [Flamengo sign Colombian futsal talent as a bet for the youth football categories] (in Brazilian Portuguese). Globoesporte.com. 18 July 2019. Retrieved 3 March 2020.
  4. ^"Flamengo deve utilizar jovens do elenco principal como reforços para a Taça Guanabara" [Flamengo might use youngsters of the main squad as additions for the Taça Guanabara] (in Brazilian Portuguese). colunadofla.com. 2 January 2020. Retrieved 3 March 2020.
  5. ^"Colombiano do Flamengo foi joia do futsal e se destacou contra Falcão" [Colombian of Flamengo was a futsal pearl and was a spotlight against Falcão] (in Brazilian Portuguese). UOL Esporte. 23 January 2020. Archived from the original on 14 February 2023. Retrieved 14 February 2023.
  6. ^"Versátil contra o Palmeiras, Richard Rios renova contrato com o Flamengo" [Versatile against Palmeiras, Richard Ríos renews contract with Flamengo] (in Brazilian Portuguese). O Dia. 28 September 2020. Retrieved 14 February 2023.
  7. ^"Após acertar renovação com Richard Rios, Flamengo encaminha empréstimo do volante ao futebol mexicano" [After agreeing renewal with Richard Ríos, Flamengo set loan of defensive midfielder to Mexican football]. O Dia. 21 June 2021. Retrieved 22 June 2021.
  8. ^"Flamengo confirma empréstimo de Richard Ríos ao Mazatlán, do México" [Flamengo confirm loan of Richard Ríos to Mazatlán, from Mexico] (in Brazilian Portuguese). TNT Sports. 23 June 2021. Retrieved 14 February 2023.
  9. ^"Richard Ríos, mediocampista del Mazatlán FC, será baja de 6 a 8 meses" [Richard Ríos, Mazatlán FC midfielder, will be out 6 to 8 months] (in Spanish). Noroeste. 18 September 2021. Retrieved 14 February 2023.
  10. ^"Emprestado pelo Flamengo, Richard Ríos volta a jogar no México sete meses após lesão" [On loan from Flamengo, Richard Ríos is back to action in Mexico seven months after injury] (in Brazilian Portuguese). ge. 23 April 2022. Retrieved 14 February 2023.
  11. ^"Mazatlán, do México, não exerce opção de compra, e Richard Ríos voltará ao Flamengo" [Mazatlán, from Mexico, does not exercise buyout clause, and Richard Ríos will return to Flamengo] (in Brazilian Portuguese). ge. 24 May 2022. Retrieved 14 February 2023.
  12. ^"Volante colombiano Richard Rios encerra vínculo com Flamengo e reforça o Guarani" [Colombian defensive midfielder Richard Rios ends link with Flamengo and bolsters Guarani] (in Brazilian Portuguese). ge. 4 August 2022. Retrieved 14 February 2023.
  13. ^"Gol de Richard Ríos faz Bugre renascer" [Richard Ríos' goal makes Bugre be reborn] (in Brazilian Portuguese). Correio Popular. 15 October 2022. Retrieved 14 February 2023.
  14. ^"Richard Ríos é referência do Bugre no meio de campo" [Richard Ríos becomes a reference of Bugre in the midfield] (in Brazilian Portuguese). Correio Popular. 14 February 2023. Retrieved 14 February 2023.
  15. ^"Destaque no Paulista, Richard Ríos assina contrato e será o 10º colombiano da história do Palmeiras" [Spotlight in the Paulista, Richard Ríos signs contract and will be the 10th Colombian in Palmeiras' history] (in Brazilian Portuguese). SE Palmeiras. 28 March 2023. Retrieved 29 March 2023.
  16. ^"Palmeiras anuncia a contratação de Richard Ríos" [Palmeiras announce the signing of Richard Ríos] (in Brazilian Portuguese). ge. 28 March 2023. Retrieved 29 March 2023.
  17. ^"Confira os melhores momentos de Richard Rios no Palmeiras em 2023". 17 December 2023.
  18. ^"Richard Ríos é reforço do Benfica!" [Richard Ríos is an addition of Benfica!] (in Portuguese). SL Benfica. 22 July 2025. Retrieved 22 July 2025.
  19. ^"Colombia – Richard Ríos". Soccerway. Retrieved 23 July 2025.
  20. ^ abcRichard Ríos at National-Football-Teams.com
  21. ^Richard Ríos at Soccerway
  22. ^NÓBREGA LA MARCA, CAIO. ANÁLISE COMPARATIVA FINANCEIRA ENTRE FLAMENGO E PALMEIRAS (Thesis). Faculdades Catolicas.
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