English Premier League
Richard Rios: From barefoot futsal games to Al-Ittihad’s midfield
Al-Ittihad have signed Colombia midfielder Richard Rios on loan from Benfica until the end of the current season. The agreement does not include an option to buy, according to media reports, meaning Benfica intend to bring the player back when the loan ends.
Rios, 26, was announced as Al-Ittihad’s latest signing early on Thursday. Born in Vegachi, Colombia, on 2 June 2000, he arrives in Saudi Arabia after a rapid rise that has taken him from difficult beginnings in futsal to the Copa America final and European football.
Rios grew up in extremely challenging circumstances and initially looked towards sport as a possible way out. He loved football, but the intense competition made it difficult for him to progress through the traditional game. Instead, he turned to futsal.
His early years in the sport were far from comfortable. At times, Rios had to play matches barefoot. The difficulties surrounding his childhood were also reflected in the fact that he was unable to watch the 2012 Futsal World Cup in Thailand on television.
Futsal nevertheless became the unexpected route into professional football. In 2018, when he was 18, Rios travelled to Brazil with Colombia’s under-20 futsal team for a friendly tournament. His performances attracted widespread attention, leading Flamengo to invite him for a trial before signing him permanently.
That move brought an end to his futsal career, although its influence remains clear in the way he plays. Rios previously told the official Fifa website: “Most of what I do on the pitch comes from futsal, whether it is putting my foot on the ball, controlling, keeping possession, dealing with one-on-one situations, or making two-man plays.”
He added: “I can think faster than others in tight spaces, and I think football involves a lot of that. These small battles may be the things you need to master to win the match.”
Flamengo promoted Rios to their first team in January 2021, but he was loaned to Mexican club Mazatlan later that year. His time in Mexico brought one of the biggest setbacks of his career, with a knee injury keeping him out for seven months.
Seeking regular football at the start of the following season, Rios joined Guarani in Brazil’s second tier. The club were fighting to avoid relegation to the third division, but the Colombian helped them survive and subsequently attracted the attention of Palmeiras.
Palmeiras signed him in March 2023, beginning one of the most successful periods of his career. Rios helped the club win the Brazilian league title in 2023 and made 138 appearances in total, scoring 11 goals and providing 10 assists.
His form earned him a first Colombia call-up in October 2023. Less than a year later, he was a regular starter at Copa America 2024, playing in all six of Colombia’s matches as they reached the final. Argentina won that game 1-0 after extra time.
The achievement marked a dramatic transformation: only 18 months earlier, Rios had been playing for a club battling to avoid relegation from Brazil’s second division; he was now starting for Colombia in a major international final.
He also caught the eye at the tournament with his technical ability and his goal in Colombia’s 5-0 quarter-final victory over Panama. However, it was his celebration that drew particular attention. Rios regularly performs the same dance after scoring for his clubs and country.
The celebration became so popular that the Colombian city of Amalfi held a children’s dance competition named “Richard Rios”. The winner was the child who could best imitate the midfielder’s goal celebration.
In the summer of 2025, Benfica signed Rios from Palmeiras for 16m euros, according to media reports. During the previous season, he played 51 matches in all competitions for the Portuguese club, scoring eight goals and setting up seven more. He also helped Benfica win the domestic Super Cup.
Benfica have now agreed to send him to Al-Ittihad for the current summer transfer window, but reportedly rejected the inclusion of a purchase option so they can reclaim him at the end of the season.
Rios will be expected to strengthen Al-Ittihad’s midfield, particularly as the Saudi club lack players capable of providing the kind of individual quality he possesses. His arrival comes amid declining performances from Algeria international Houssem Aouar.
