Richard Ríos Montoya

Richard Ríos Montoya is a Colombian midfielder who has built his career through futsal and South American football. Born in Vegachí on June 2, 2000, he developed on courts in Colombia before turning to 11-a-side football. At the 2018 South American Under-20 Futsal Championship, Flamengo scouts invited him to trial with their football academy. He made his senior debut for Flamengo in 2020, later spending a loan spell at Mazatlán. After leaving Flamengo in 2022, Ríos joined Guarani, where his Paulista performances helped attract Palmeiras. Palmeiras signed him in 2023, and he helped the club win the 2023 Brasileirão and 2024 Campeonato Paulista. For Colombia, Richard Ríos featured throughout their run to the 2024 Copa América final. In July 2025, he moved to Benfica, where the central midfielder can carry the ball through congested areas and operate as either a box-to-box No. 8 or deep-lying No. 6.