From the Court to the Continental Stage: Richard Rios’ Futsal Roots and Record Transfer to Benfica

When Benfica announced Richard Rios as the club’s most expensive signing in history, the headline wasn’t just about money—it was about meaning. For those who have followed his journey, the transfer was a full-circle moment, validating not just his talent, but the sport that raised him: futsal.

Born in the modest Colombian town of Vegachi, Rios didn’t come through elite academies. His earliest games were played on street corners, dusty courts, and barefoot when shoes weren’t an option. “We didn’t have a good standard of living,” he shared, remembering how he couldn’t even watch Colombia’s 2012 run at the FIFA Futsal World Cup. “We just followed it as best we could.”

But he did more than follow. He lived it.

A Game That Shaped Him

“I divided my time equally between futsal and 11-a-side football,” Rios said in an interview. “But when I realised the chances of me going far in football were limited, I committed to futsal.”

That commitment paid off. At 18, Rios traveled to Rio de Janeiro to compete in a youth futsal tournament with Colombia’s national team. He played double duty—representing both the U-20 and senior squads. It was after this event that fate intervened. CR Flamengo invited him for an 11-a-side trial. In a matter of months, the futsal player who once thought he’d never break into outdoor football was wearing the red and black of one of Brazil’s biggest clubs.

But Rios never abandoned his roots.

“Most of what I do on the pitch stems from futsal,” he said. “Whether it’s putting my foot on the ball and controlling possession, handling one-on-one situations or executing one-twos.”

That futsal DNA is exactly what has set him apart—at Palmeiras, with the Colombian national team, and now in Europe.

More Than Technique, It's Mentality

“I can think more quickly than some in tight spaces,” Rios explains. “Football involves a lot of that—many micro-games within a much bigger one. These mini battles—two on two or one on one—can be the things you have to get right to win a game. Futsal is all about that.”

Rios isn’t just a player with flair. He’s a product of constant movement, resilience, and relentless drive. Growing up, he moved homes frequently, searching for better opportunities. Playing futsal became more than a pastime—it was a way forward, a way out.

At 12, he couldn’t afford to watch his country on TV. A few years later, he was sharing the court with his childhood idols, like Colombia’s No.10 Angellott Caro, from the 2012 World Cup squad. “This had a big impact on me and contributed a lot to me being where I am now.”

A Victory for Futsal

Rios’ transfer to Benfica isn’t just a story of personal triumph. It’s a landmark for futsal-born athletes. A message to clubs worldwide: futsal isn’t just a feeder sport—it’s a developer of elite talent.

From Vegachi to Medellín, from futsal courts to Estádio da Luz, Richard Rios is the embodiment of what futsal can build—technical intelligence, tactical sharpness, and mental grit.

In a world where scouts still overlook futsal players, Rios stands tall as a new reference point. Benfica’s record investment is more than justified—it’s overdue recognition for a player, and a sport, that continues to shape the future of football.