Following a professional career that spanned 19 years, Argentina legend Juan Roman Riquelme announced on Sunday that he will retire. Riquelme had been negotiating a contract with Paraguayan club Cerro Porteño, but has instead opted to walk away from the sport at the age of 36. He last played for Argentinos Juniors in the Argentine second division.
Juan Roman Riquelme announces retirement
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Most of Riquelme’s career was spent at Boca Juniors over two different spells. For his accomplishments with the club, Riquelme is considered one of its greatest ever players. He won the Primera Division four times and Copa Libertadores twice during his initial spell, then won the league twice and Copa Libertadores once during his second spell. In 381 games with the club, Riquelme scored 92 goals.
Between those spells, Riquelme played for one season at Barcelona, then three-and-a-half at Villarreal. His best season with the Yellow Submarine was the 2004-05 campaign, when he scored 17 goals in all competitions and guided the team on a surprise run to the UEFA Champions League semifinals.
While Riquelme starred at the 2006 World Cup, 2007 Copa America and 2008 Olympics, his relationship with the national team was a roller-coaster ride. He had vocal disagreements with Diego Maradona, and was dropped in 2008, never to return to the Albiceleste again. Even though he made his debut in 1997 and was one of the best players of his generation, Riquelme finished his national team career with just 51 caps.
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