Riqui Puig facts for kids
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Puig with Barcelona in 2021
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| Personal information | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Date of birth | 13 August 1999 | ||
| Place of birth | Matadepera, Spain | ||
| Height | 1.69 m | ||
| Playing position | Midfielder | ||
| Club information | |||
| Current club | LA Galaxy | ||
| Number | 10 | ||
| Youth career | |||
| 2008–2013 | Jàbac Terrassa | ||
| 2013–2018 | Barcelona | ||
| Senior career* | |||
| Years | Team | Apps† | (Gls)† |
| 2018–2020 | Barcelona B | 56 | (2) |
| 2018–2022 | Barcelona | 42 | (2) |
| 2022– | LA Galaxy | 68 | (23) |
| National team‡ | |||
| 2020–2021 | Spain U21 | 4 | (0) |
| 2019– | Catalonia | 2 | (0) |
† Appearances (Goals). |
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Ricard "Riqui" Puig Martí (born August 13, 1999) is a Spanish professional footballer. He plays as a midfielder for the Major League Soccer club LA Galaxy. Riqui is known for his skills and ability to control the game from the middle of the field.
Contents
Club Career
Barcelona Beginnings
Riqui Puig was born in Matadepera, Catalonia, Spain. He joined Barcelona's famous youth academy, La Masia, in 2013. This academy is known for training many top football stars.
After working his way up through the youth teams, Riqui made his senior debut with Barcelona's reserve team, Barcelona B, on February 24, 2018. He came on as a substitute in a match against Gimnàstic Tarragona.
Playing for the First Team
On December 5, 2018, Riqui made his exciting debut for Barcelona's main team. This was during a Copa del Rey match, where he helped set up a goal.
In April 2019, he played his first game in La Liga, which is Spain's top football league. He scored his first goal for Barcelona B on September 14, 2019. By October 2020, Riqui officially became a full member of Barcelona's first team. He was given the number 12 jersey.
Riqui scored a very important goal for Barcelona on January 13, 2021. He scored the winning penalty in a shootout against Real Sociedad in the Supercopa de España semi-final. Later that month, on January 24, 2021, he scored his first goal for the first team in a La Liga game against Elche.
Joining LA Galaxy
On August 4, 2022, Riqui Puig moved to the Major League Soccer club LA Galaxy in the United States. He signed a contract for three and a half years. He made his first appearance for LA Galaxy on August 19, helping his new team to a 3–3 draw.
Riqui scored his first goal for LA Galaxy on August 31, 2022. It was a powerful shot from outside the box in the 89th minute of a game against Toronto FC. He quickly became a key player for the team, known for his passing and playmaking skills. The team did very well after he joined, losing only one of their last ten regular season matches. They made it to the 2022 MLS Cup Playoffs.
On May 31, 2024, Riqui signed a new contract with the Galaxy, keeping him at the club until 2027. Later that year, on November 30, he suffered an ACL injury during the Western Conference final. Even with his injury, he provided an assist that led to a 1–0 victory, helping his club reach the MLS Cup final. The LA Galaxy went on to win the MLS Cup, beating the New York Red Bulls 2–1.
Style of Play
Riqui Puig came from La Masia, Barcelona's famous youth academy. He is known for being a player who can control the flow of the game. He has great attacking skills and can direct how the game moves forward. Some people have compared his playing style to the legendary Spanish midfielder Andrés Iniesta.
Personal Life
Riqui Puig's father, Carlos, was also a footballer. He played as a left-back for Terrassa his whole career. In April 2023, Riqui Puig invested money in a new free-to-play football video game called Goals.
Honours
Barcelona Youth
- UEFA Youth League: 2017–18
Barcelona
- La Liga: 2018–19
- Copa del Rey: 2020–21
LA Galaxy
- MLS Cup: 2024
- Western Conference (MLS): 2024
Individual
- MLS Best XI: 2024
- MLS All-Star: 2023, 2024
See also
In Spanish: Riqui Puig para niños
