Richard Rios: Career, Net Worth, Awards & Family

It is a well-known fact that Colombia have been the dark horse in every major international football tournament, be it the World Cup or the Copa America. Players like Carlos Valderrama, Rene Higuita, Radamel Falcao, and James Rodriguez have taken their nation to greater heights through their performances across different timelines. While Colombia remains a force to be reckoned with, the upcoming bunch of players are too hard to ignore. One such player happens to be Richard Rios, who's started to make a name for himself in the Colombian football fraternity.

Rios currently plays for Brazilian Serie A side Palmeiras, where he played an instrumental role in lifting the league title in 2023 and the Campeonato Paulista in 2024. The midfielder has contributed immensely both defensively and offensively for his side in the recent FIFA Club World Cup, which has drawn massive attention from many top clubs in the world, like Inter Milan, AS Roma, and FC Porto.

Who is Richard Rios?

Aged 25, Richard Rios is a Colombian professional footballer who primarily plays as a central defensive midfielder. Rios can play in other midfield positions too, which showcases his ability to adapt to any given situation according to the needs of the team. The Colombian midfielder plies his trade in the Brazilian top-flight with Palmeiras, where he played an important part in the team's run to the quarterfinals in the ongoing FIFA Club World Cup. Rios is known for his ability to evade defenders in tight spaces and good progression of the ball in the middle of the park.

Richard Rios Net Worth

Richard Rios net worth is reported to be in the range of €1.4 million to €2.4 million. According to Transfermarkt, he has a valuation of €16 million. Playing for Palmeiras, Richard Rios net worth has seen a significant increase due to his salary increments over the years, due to his exemplary performances. Apart from salary, basic brand endorsements and other sources contribute to Richard Rios net worth.

What is Richard Rios salary?

Richard Rios salary at Palmeiras is around €997,360 gross per year, which translates to €19,180 on a weekly basis, in a contract that lasts till 2028. These values do not include additional bonuses and possible profits from brand endorsement deals. Richard Rios salary in 2020 stood at €62,000, which saw a slight dip to €55,000 in 2022 but witnessed a huge jump after his move to Palmeiras in 2023. His contract extension in 2024 saw a significant jump in his earnings due to his exploits with the Brazilian side, something that he surely deserved.

Playing Style and Strengths

Richard Rios usually plays as a central defensive midfielder but has the ability to cover all positions in the midfield role. Standing at 1.85 meters tall, he puts his physicality to good use, as is required of a central defensive midfielder. The Colombian international is known to be quite agile and fast-paced, with a knack for making forward runs with the ball at his feet.

The 25-year-old midfielder has a very good passing range, as he is known to deliver quality balls from the deep, keeping the precision intact. Rios is the perfect player to help in transitions, as explained by the Palmeiras head coach, which could prove to be a big asset for any team that acquires him shortly. The Colombian midfielder is very good in tight spaces and is fairly press-resistant, which adds an extra dimension to his gameplay.

Richard Rios Family and Early Life

The Colombian international developed an interest in the beautiful game at a very early age. He started playing in local tournaments but shifted to futsal professionally. While futsal is similar to football, but slightly faster-paced and also in a smaller environment, his dribbling in tight spaces and ability to innovate in high-pressure conditions improved massively.

After developing into a futsal player, Rios made a switch to being a proper footballer, as he joined the highly acclaimed Flamengo academy in 2020. This is where the Colombian foundation was laid for a brighter future in professional football in the years to come.

There isn't much information available regarding Richard Rios family, as the Colombian international is known to keep his personal life under wraps, far away from the limelight. Richard Rios family supported his ambition of making it big in the field of football, the benefits of which he is reaping in the present.

Who is Richard Rios Girlfriend?

As of July 2025, there is no information available publicly regarding Richard Rios girlfriend. He is currently focusing on his career and wants to keep his relationship private.

Richard Rios Career

Richard Rios started his career as a futsal player but quickly transitioned into a football player after being scouted by the Flamengo academy. After two years, he was sent on loan to Mazatlan in Liga MX, where he failed to make much impact and subsequently made a move to the second division of the Brazilian league. He played for Guarani until 2023, where he continued his development further. His exploits in Serie B earned him a better contract at Palmeiras, who acquired his services in 2023. Richard Rios career seems to have skyrocketed after this move, as he is now one of the most sought-after Colombian players in the world.

Club Career

Richard Rios career started with the Flamengo academy, where the foundation of his professional career was laid. After strenuous training sessions, Rios finally managed to break into the first team in 2020 and went on to make three appearances at the age of 20. In the following year, he featured in just four games without scoring or assisting in any of the games. Unable to meet the standards of the Brazilian top-flight, the midfielder was loaned out to Mazatlan in the Mexican League. The loan spell proved to be disappointing, as he made only 6 appearances in the 2021-22 season. Rios then made a move to a Brazilian 2nd division side named Guarani on a free transfer in 2022, in the hope of getting his mojo back. The Colombian developed well at the club, as he registered 3 goals and an assist in 20 appearances. Just as Rios was starting to make a name for himself as a defensive as well as box-to-box midfielder, he was snapped up by Palmeiras in the Brazilian top-flight for a reported fee of €1 million in 2023.

The 25-year-old midfielder has reached new heights with his new club, as he already has 11 goals and 10 assists to his name in 137 appearances. He played 37 matches in his first season, where he amassed a total of 41 accurate long balls, 46 completed dribbles, 33 successful tackles, 150 duels won successfully, and 130 recoveries. He bagged two assists in the ongoing FIFA Club World Cup, as he helped Palmeiras reach the quarterfinal stage before losing out to Chelsea.

International Career

Richard Rios' good run of form with Palmeiras resulted in his maiden call-up for the Colombian national team in 2023. Since then, the midfielder has featured in 21 games, scoring two goals in the process. His performance in the Copa America 2024 caught the attention of the fans and experts due to his aggressive nature of winning the ball in the middle of the park and making progressive runs whenever he had the chance. Unfortunately, Colombia had to face a defeat against Argentina by a margin of 0-1 in extra time, but Rios' exploits didn't go unnoticed.

Richard Rios Awards and Achievements

Let's take a look at Richard Rios Awards and Achievements. The Colombian midfielder has won the Brazilian league with Flamengo in 2020 and with Palmeiras in 2023. He also has a Campeonato Paulista to his name with Palmeiras in 2024. Rios also won two Campeonato Cariocas with Flamengo in 2020 and 2021, respectively. Richard Rios awards and achievements also include a runner-up medal with Colombia in the Copa America 2024 Final.