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Riquelme's star shining

But he'll likely not make FIFA's final list for year's best.

Published June 17, 2007

When FIFA gets around to naming its 2007 Player of the Year, AC Milan's Kaka and Manchester United's Cristiano Ronaldo will almost certainly be two of the three finalists. The third name isn't as sure, though Chelsea striker Didier Drogba is a strong candidate. Barring a removal of the international blind spot toward players based in South America, Boca Juniors' playmaker Juan Ramon Riquelme will not be among the FIFA finalists, though he should be based on any objective measure.

One year after leading Spanish club Villareal to its only UEFA Champions League semifinal, Riquelme is back with his original team at Buenos Aires, and he couldn't be more at home. This past Wednesday, before a typically fervent crowd at the Bombonera, Riquelme delivered a performance for the ages in Boca's 3-0 win over Brazil's Gremio in the first leg of the Copa Libertadores final.

Playing with an air of grace that belied the buzz around him, Riquelme scored one goal and helped create two others to put Boca on the brink of its sixth Copa title heading into Wednesday's match at Porto Alegre. If Riquelme had done for UEFA champion AC Milan what he's doing for Boca in the Copa, the FIFA ballot would be a mere formality.

Against Gremio, he started the first goal with a long free kick that Martin Palermo nodded to Rodrigo Palacio for the finish. Palermo and two teammates were offside on the play, but that doesn't change the perfection of Riquelme's pass. His goal, his sixth in Copa play, came on a free kick he won just outside the 18. On the third goal, Riquelme mesmerized five Gremio defenders with his dribbling skills before caroming a shot off goalkeeper Diego Saha that was converted in a goalmouth scramble.

Riquelme is, quite obviously to even a soccer novice, a rarity in today's game, but it won't count for much when FIFA holds it World Player gala in December. FIFA has been giving out its award since 1991 and in that time, not one player from a South American club has been among the three finalists. That's 48 players, all of them from European clubs and none from Boca Juniors, Sao Paulo or River Plate.

It's been debated before that South Americans get recognized in Europe rather than back home because they are at their peak in terms of age, exposure and earning power. Perhaps. More likely it's simply a case of the soccer world not watching the Copa Libertadores, or domestic leagues in Brazil and Argentina.

One week shy of turning 29, Riquelme is in his prime playing for the best club team on the planet. No matter what may come from FIFA voters later this year, there's no denying the influence he has on a game and the pleasure he provides through his artistry.

Boca Juniors will play Haiti at 7 p.m. July 28 at the Orange Bowl. Tickets are $25-$35 and available at 877-877-7677 or Tixops.com. Riquelme is on loan from Villareal, but it's expected he'll move to Boca permanently.