Lionel Messi once again made an appearance on Sunday evening for football fans in Argentina. The 36-year-old star forward showed up at a tribute event for Juan Román Riquelme at La Bombonera, the iconic stadium of Boca Juniors.
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Riquelme retired from his professional career nine years ago and has been serving as the vice-president of Boca for several years now. However, there had apparently never been a proper farewell for the legendary playmaker. That changed on Sunday evening, a day after his 45th birthday, and it turned into a grand celebration for football fans, particularly those in Argentina.
Besides Messi and Riquelme, other notable attendees in Buenos Aires included world champions Ángel Di María, Leandro Paredes, and national team coach Lionel Scaloni. Former players such as Pablo Aimar, Lucho González, and Javier Saviola also showed that they hadn't lost their footballing skills, much like the master himself, Riquelme, who dazzled with his passes.
Although Messi never played for Boca Juniors, he was still enthusiastically cheered on by the passionate fans of the Argentine powerhouse. In the second half, the recent signing of Inter Miami even managed to score a goal for the Argentine star-studded team against the Boca side, ending the match with a score of 4-2.
Ultimately, it all revolved around Riquelme, who played over 350 matches for Boca Juniors across two spells. The number 10 addressed the packed Bombonera stadium and expressed his gratitude for what football has brought him. "I owe everything to it. I was able to buy a house for my mother because of it."
Riquelme also paid tribute to the late Diego Maradona and wore the shirt of the Argentine legend. "I had the fortune to play with the greatest of all time, the man I dreamed of as a child: Maradona. And then I also played with another great (Messi, Editor's note), and I don't know if he was greater than Maradona."
Riquelme concluded his speech with a message for his former coaches and the fans, who created an incredible atmosphere at La Bombonera. "There are people here whom I love, who have taught me a lot," referring to Carlos Bianchi, Coco Basile, and José Pekerman. "A big kiss to all the Argentine fans. I hope you enjoyed this day."
Updated: 10:28, 26 Jun 2023
