Richard Ríos Montoya is a Colombian midfielder who plays for Al-Ittihad on loan from Benfica and represents the Colombia national team. Born on June 2, 2000, he is 26 years old as of September 2026. He built his career through futsal, Brazilian football, and a move to Europe before beginning his latest club chapter in Saudi Arabia.
His football career also draws interest in his earnings and family. His reported Benfica salary was approximately €3 million a year before tax and bonuses, but his personal net worth is not verified. That Benfica estimate should not be treated as confirmation of his salary under the later Al-Ittihad loan arrangement.
Ríos became more widely known through Palmeiras and Colombia’s run to the 2024 Copa América final. His story includes limited first-team chances, a serious knee injury, and a return through Brazil’s second division. Those experiences help explain the different stages of his rise.
Richard Ríos Quick Facts
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Full name | Richard Ríos Montoya |
| Date of birth | June 2, 2000 |
| Age | 26 as of September 2026 |
| Birthplace | Vegachí, Antioquia, Colombia |
| Nationality | Colombian |
| Position | Central midfielder |
| Height | 1.85 m, approximately 6 ft 1 in, in FIFA’s 2025 squad list |
| Current playing club | Al-Ittihad, on loan from Benfica |
| Parent club | Benfica |
| National team | Colombia |
| Previous clubs | Flamengo, Mazatlán, Guarani, Palmeiras |
| Reported Benfica annual salary | Approximately €3 million gross; an estimate |
| Net worth | Not publicly verified |
Richard Ríos’ Current Club and Benfica Contract
Ríos joined Al-Ittihad on loan for the 2026–27 season. Benfica announced the temporary move in September 2026. The arrangement means he plays for the Saudi club while remaining contracted to Benfica. Benfica’s official loan announcement
He originally joined Benfica from Palmeiras in July 2025 on a contract running until 2030. His move to Saudi Arabia is therefore a loan rather than a confirmed permanent departure from the Portuguese club. Older profiles that simply list Benfica as his current playing team need that distinction.
Richard Ríos’ Salary, Wages and Net Worth
Reported Benfica Salary
Capology’s 2025–26 Benfica salary listing estimated Ríos’ fixed gross pay at €3 million per season, excluding bonuses. That is approximately €250,000 a month or €57,692 a week. The monthly and weekly amounts are simple divisions of the annual estimate, not separate confirmed payment figures.
“Gross” means the amount before tax and other deductions. It does not tell readers how much reaches a player’s bank account. Bonuses, endorsement income, agent arrangements, and any revised terms can also change a player’s overall earnings.
Since Ríos subsequently moved on loan, the Benfica figure is best understood as a reported salary for that earlier club period. His exact current salary has not been established through a public contract or official club disclosure in this review. Reports of higher earnings in Saudi Arabia should not turn an estimate into a confirmed fact.
| Financial detail | Amount or status | What it means |
|---|---|---|
| Benfica annual base salary | Approximately €3,000,000 gross | Third-party estimate for 2025–26, excluding bonuses |
| Monthly equivalent | Approximately €250,000 | Annual estimate divided by 12 |
| Weekly equivalent | Approximately €57,692 | Annual estimate divided by 52 |
| Current Al-Ittihad salary | Not officially verified here | Do not automatically carry over the Benfica estimate |
| Reported 2025 Benfica transfer fee | €27 million | Reported purchase amount, not his personal income |
| Personal net worth | Not verified | No complete public account of his assets and debts |
Net Worth and Transfer Value
Richard Ríos’ net worth is not publicly verified. A salary estimate alone cannot establish how much wealth he has accumulated. A meaningful calculation would also need reliable information about taxes, spending, savings, investments, property, and debts.
His transfer fee is a different figure. Reporting on Benfica’s July 2025 announcement put the purchase amount at €27 million. That payment concerned the transfer between clubs; it should not be described as money Ríos personally received or as his net worth.
A football website’s “market value” is different again: it is an estimate of a player’s value in the transfer market. It can change with performances, age, contract length, and demand. The old €25 million valuation in earlier profiles should always have a provider and update date attached, rather than being presented as a permanent fact.
Richard Ríos’ Parents, Brothers and Family
Ríos comes from Vegachí in Colombia’s Antioquia department. Published family reporting identifies his parents as Neimar and Sandra, and his brothers as Neimar Jr. and Steven. These are reported family details; a full public biography of each relative is not available.
His family is part of the wider story of a player who left Colombia to develop his career abroad. Moving to Brazil brought a different language and a new football environment. His later career also took him to Mexico, Portugal, and Saudi Arabia.
| Family member | Reported information |
|---|---|
| Father | Neimar |
| Mother | Sandra |
| Brothers | Neimar Jr. and Steven |
| Family roots | Vegachí, Antioquia, Colombia |
| Wife | No marriage confirmed in the reliable reporting reviewed |
| Children | No reliable public confirmation identified in this review |
Richard Ríos’ Wife, Girlfriend and Children
Ríos has not been confirmed as married in the reliable material reviewed for this update. Colombian entertainment reporting in early 2026 described Madu Carvalho as his girlfriend. A reported girlfriend should not be labeled his wife without evidence of a marriage.
There is also no reliable public confirmation of children in the material reviewed. That is a limit of the available information, rather than proof that every part of his private life is known. Photographs with children or relatives do not, by themselves, establish parenthood.
Richard Ríos’ Age, Height and Appearance
Ríos turned 26 on June 2, 2026. FIFA’s Palmeiras squad list for the 2025 Club World Cup records his birth date as June 2, 2000, and his height as 185 cm. That height is approximately 6 ft 1 in, rather than the 1.87 m figure repeated in some other profiles.
His weight can vary during a season, and a current official measurement was not established for this update. It is more accurate to leave that figure unconfirmed than to repeat 80 kg as a fixed fact. His haircut also changes, so photographs from one match should not be treated as a permanent description.
| Age and physical detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Age as of September 2026 | 26 |
| Birthday | June 2 |
| Birth year | 2000 |
| Height in FIFA’s 2025 squad list | 185 cm / 1.85 m |
| Approximate height in feet | 6 ft 1 in |
| Current weight | Not verified for this update |
| Preferred foot | Right |
| Hair and appearance | Vary across dated photographs |
Early Life and Education
Richard Ríos was born in Vegachí, a municipality in northeastern Antioquia. His early route into sport included futsal, where a smaller pitch gives players less time and space on the ball. That background became an important part of his development before he entered professional eleven-a-side football.
His sporting pathway is better documented than his formal education. The sources reviewed do not establish a complete school history or university qualification. There is no need to add a school name or degree without reliable evidence.
Nationality and Ethnic Background
Richard Ríos is Colombian, not Brazilian. He was born in Colombia and represents its national team. His long spell with Brazilian clubs explains why some readers associate him closely with Brazil.
Playing in a country does not change a footballer’s nationality. His precise ethnic ancestry is a separate matter and was not established in the reliable sources reviewed. It should not be inferred from his surname, appearance, or place of employment.
Futsal and the Start of His Career
Ríos played futsal with Alianza Platanera before moving into professional football. He attracted Flamengo’s attention during the 2018 South American Under-20 futsal competition. By 2020, he had reached the Brazilian club’s senior team.
Futsal helps explain his comfort when space is limited. Players must receive passes, turn, and make decisions while opponents are close. Those same skills are useful for a central midfielder trying to move the ball through pressure.
Flamengo, Mazatlán and His Knee Injury
At Flamengo, Ríos faced strong competition for first-team minutes. He made senior appearances in 2020, including opportunities during a period when the squad was affected by COVID-19. The experience introduced him to top-level Brazilian football, but regular playing time remained difficult to secure.
He joined Mexico’s Mazatlán on loan in 2021. A knee injury later that year interrupted the move and kept him out for several months. He returned to action in 2022, but the loan did not lead to a permanent transfer.
This injury belongs to an earlier stage of his career. It should not be used to suggest that he is currently injured. Present fitness and availability require a dated update from his club or national team.
Guarani and the Move to Palmeiras
Ríos joined Guarani in 2022 after leaving Flamengo. Playing for the Brazilian club gave him another chance to build his career and show what he could offer in midfield. His performances during that period brought him to Palmeiras’ attention.
Palmeiras signed him in March 2023. He went on to be part of the team that won the 2023 Brazilian Série A title, followed by the 2024 Campeonato Paulista. The move also gave him more exposure in major South American competitions.
| Career stage | Period | Main development |
|---|---|---|
| Alianza Platanera | Before Flamengo | Futsal background |
| Flamengo | Senior period from 2020 | First-team opportunities in Brazil |
| Mazatlán | 2021–22 loan | Mexican football and a long injury absence |
| Guarani | 2022–23 | Return to regular club football |
| Palmeiras | 2023–25 | Domestic trophies and wider recognition |
| Benfica | Joined July 2025 | Move to Portugal on a contract through 2030 |
| Al-Ittihad | 2026–27 loan | Latest playing-club move |
Benfica and the Move to European Football
Benfica signed Ríos in July 2025 after his Palmeiras spell. The move took him into Portuguese football and European competition. It was a new stage in a career that had previously developed mainly in Latin America.
He was part of Benfica’s 2025 Portuguese Super Cup success. His time in Portugal was followed by the Al-Ittihad loan announced in September 2026. Both stages belong in a current account of his career, rather than ending the story with his arrival at Benfica.
Richard Ríos’ Playing Style and Position
Ríos is primarily a central midfielder, with the ability to contribute to both defending and attacking. He can challenge for possession, carry the ball forward, and connect passes between teammates. The term “box-to-box” describes this involvement across different parts of the pitch.
His futsal background is especially useful when receiving the ball in crowded areas. Close control and quick changes of direction can help him escape pressure. His exact role still depends on the coach, the formation, and the other midfielders selected alongside him.
Colombia Career and Copa América 2024
Ríos made his senior Colombia debut on October 12, 2023, during a 2–2 draw with Uruguay. This corrects the 2022 debut date given in some summaries. He subsequently became part of Colombia’s midfield group at major tournaments.
At the 2024 Copa América, he helped Colombia reach the final. The team finished as runner-up to Argentina. That tournament brought his performances to a wider audience and became one of the most visible achievements of his international career.
Richard Ríos at the 2026 World Cup
Ríos was selected for Colombia’s 2026 World Cup squad. The tournament has now taken place, so descriptions of him “entering” it or predictions about what he might achieve are outdated. His World Cup involvement is part of his career record rather than a future possibility.
Colombia reached the round of 16, where Switzerland eliminated them on July 7, 2026. The match finished 0–0 after extra time, and Switzerland won the penalty shootout 4–3. That result provides a clear endpoint to Colombia’s tournament run.
Selected Honors and Achievements
| Team | Achievement | Year |
|---|---|---|
| Palmeiras | Brazilian Série A champion | 2023 |
| Palmeiras | Campeonato Paulista champion | 2024 |
| Benfica | Portuguese Super Cup winner | 2025 |
| Colombia | Copa América runner-up | 2024 |
| Colombia | World Cup squad member | 2026 |
The table lists selected team achievements and tournament involvement. It does not treat descriptions such as “rising star” as formal individual awards. A broader career overview is available in Richard Ríos’ Wikipedia biography.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is Richard Ríos’ net worth?
His personal net worth is not verified. Published salary estimates and club transfer fees do not establish his total wealth.
What was Richard Ríos’ salary at Benfica?
His estimated 2025–26 Benfica base salary was about €3 million gross per year, excluding bonuses. That works out to approximately €250,000 monthly or €57,692 weekly.
What does Richard Ríos earn now?
His exact salary under the Al-Ittihad loan arrangement is not officially verified in this review. The earlier Benfica estimate should not be presented as confirmed current pay.
Who are Richard Ríos’ parents?
Published family reporting identifies his parents as Neimar and Sandra. His brothers are reported as Neimar Jr. and Steven.
Is Richard Ríos married?
No marriage was confirmed in the reliable reporting reviewed. Reports in early 2026 identified Madu Carvalho as his girlfriend.
Does Richard Ríos have kids?
No reliable public confirmation of children was identified for this update. His private family circumstances should not be guessed from photographs or rumors.
How old is Richard Ríos?
He is 26 as of September 2026. He was born on June 2, 2000.
How tall is Richard Ríos?
FIFA’s 2025 Club World Cup squad list records him at 185 cm, approximately 6 ft 1 in.
Is Richard Ríos Brazilian?
No. He is Colombian. He spent several years playing for Brazilian clubs, including Flamengo, Guarani, and Palmeiras.
Which club does Richard Ríos play for?
As of September 2026, he plays for Al-Ittihad on loan from Benfica. He also represents Colombia internationally.
Final Thoughts
Richard Ríos’ career has taken him from Colombian futsal to club football across several countries. His Palmeiras titles, Colombia appearances, and move to Benfica show how far that pathway has taken him. The Al-Ittihad loan is the latest chapter as of September 2026.
For readers interested in his life beyond matches, the clearest distinction is between reported details and confirmed records. His birth date, football career, and tournament appearances are documented; his exact wealth and parts of his private life are not. Keeping that distinction makes his story useful without adding claims the evidence cannot support.
