Boca idol Riquelme announces Messi’s presence in tribute game at Bombonera

Juan Román Riquelme, historical idol of Boca Juniors and current vice-president of the club, announced this Wednesday, in a press conference, that Lionel Messi, captain of the Argentine national team, will participate in his farewell match to be played on the 25th. of June at Bombonera.

“Messi will be there. And he will play in the most beautiful stadium in the world and with the best fans in the world”, commented Riquelme on the participation of the star player who led the Argentine team to win the third world championship in the 2022 Qatar Cup.

Riquelme, now 45 years old, was Boca’s greatest idol of this century, a talented midfielder who played 388 games, in which he scored 92 goals and provided 119 assists, and won 11 titles, including three Libertadores, a Recopa Sudamericana, and an Intercontinental, in which his team beat Real Madrid (2-1) in an unforgettable match in 2000.

“For me it is also a dream (Messi’s presence), the greatest player of all time for many. I was lucky to see (Diego) Maradona and him, and to be companions of the two. I’m sure he will enjoy himself” , added Riquelme.

𝙐𝙣 𝙥𝙖𝙧𝙩𝙞𝙙𝙤 𝙥𝙖𝙧𝙖 𝙩𝙤𝙙𝙖 𝙡𝙖 ✋🔟🤚

I lived the press conference of Juan Román Riquelme, live, with the preview from 7:00 p.m. through @ElCanaldeBoca 🔵🟡🔵

💻 https://t.co/MxPeQREH4R pic.twitter.com/PnvBZM5k5b

— Boca Juniors (@BocaJrsOficial) June 14, 2023

In fact, the current vice-president of Boca took his first steps in the ‘Xeneize’ team when Maradona was about to retire. He replaced the ‘Pibe de Oro’ in his last official match, against River in 1997, and later was Messi’s teammate in the Albiceleste national team.

This tribute match to Riquelme will be played on June 25, the day after another farewell match, in this case that of Maximiliano Rodríguez, also a teammate of both in the Argentine national team, with Messi expected to participate in this festive game.

“The teams are already clear. If I put two Boca teams together, Messi cannot play. It will be Boca against the Argentine national team and we hope people like it a lot”, added Riquelme.

These exhibition games take place at a time when Messi has already announced his departure from PSG, where he spent two stormy seasons, and his transfer to Inter Miami, from the American MLS, starting next July.