Riqui Puig Explained

Riqui Puig
Full Name:Ricard Puig Martí[1]
Birth Date:13 August 1999[2]
Birth Place:Matadepera, Spain
Height:1.69 m[3]
Position:Midfielder
Currentclub:LA Galaxy
Clubnumber:10
Youthyears1:2008–2013
Youthclubs1:Jàbac Terrassa
Youthyears2:2013–2018
Youthclubs2:Barcelona
Years1:2018–2020
Clubs1:Barcelona B
Caps1:56
Goals1:2
Years2:2018–2022
Clubs2:Barcelona
Caps2:42
Goals2:2
Years3:2022–
Clubs3:LA Galaxy
Caps3:61
Goals3:18
Nationalyears1:2020–2021
Nationalteam1:Spain U21
Nationalcaps1:4
Nationalgoals1:0
Nationalyears2:2019–
Nationalteam2:Catalonia
Nationalcaps2:2
Nationalgoals2:0
Club-Update:20 July 2024
Nationalteam-Update:30 March 2021

Ricard "Riqui" Puig Martí (in Catalan; Valencian pronounced as /riˈkaɾt ˈriki ˈputʃ/; born 13 August 1999) is a Spanish professional footballer who plays as a midfielder for Major League Soccer club LA Galaxy.

Club career

Barcelona

Born in Matadepera, Barcelona, Catalonia, Puig joined Barcelona's La Masia in 2013, from UFB Jàbac Terrassa.[4] After progressing through the youth setup, he made his senior debut with the reserves on 24 February 2018, coming on as a second-half substitute for Marcus McGuane in a 1–1 home draw against Gimnàstic Tarragona in the Segunda División championship.[5]

On 11 June 2018, Puig renewed his contract with Barça until 2021, and was promoted to the B-team in the Segunda División B.[6] He made his first team debut on 5 December, replacing fellow youth graduate Oriol Busquets in the 55th minute of a 4–1 home routing of Cultural Leonesa, in the season's Copa del Rey; he also assisted Denis Suárez, who scored Barcelona's fourth goal.[7]

Puig made his La Liga debut on 13 April 2019, starting and playing 67 minutes in a 0–0 draw against Huesca.[8] He scored his first goal for Barça B on 14 September, the second in a 2–2 home draw against AE Prat.[9]

On 6 October 2020, Puig was promoted to the first team, being handed the number 12 jersey which was previously worn by Rafinha.[10]

On 13 January 2021, Puig scored the winning penalty in the penalty shootout (Barcelona won 3–2) after being held at 1–1 at the end of extra time by Real Sociedad in the Supercopa de España semi-final.[11] On 24 January 2021, Puig scored his first goal for the first team in a 2–0 away win in La Liga against Elche, when he headed in Barcelona's second goal from a Frenkie de Jong assist.[12]

LA Galaxy

On 4 August 2022, Puig joined Major League Soccer club LA Galaxy on a free transfer and signed a 3.5-year contract with Targeted Allocation Money.[13] [14] He made his debut on 19 August as a substitute against Seattle Sounders FC, contributing to a 3–3 draw.[14] Puig scored his first MLS goal—a strike from outside the box in the 89th minute—in a 2–2 draw with Toronto FC on 31 August.[15] He was positioned as a playmaker and averaged more than 75 passes per 90 minutes with a high rate of completion as the Galaxy lost only once in their final ten regular season matches.[16] The team qualified for the 2022 MLS Cup Playoffs, where they were eliminated in the Western Conference Semifinals.[17]

On 31 May 2024, Puig signed a new contract with the Galaxy, keeping him at the club until 2027.[18]

Style of play

A product of La Masia, he is known to be a player capable of directing the motion of the game through his great attacking prowess. He has drawn comparisons to Andrés Iniesta in the past, however he has also struggled for playing time.[19]

Personal life

Riqui Puig's father, Carlos, was also a footballer. A left-back, he spent his entire career representing Terrassa.[4] In April 2023, Puig participated in a $20 million investment fund for the upcoming free-to-play football video game Goals.[20]

Career statistics

[21]

Club!rowspan="2"
SeasonLeagueNational cupContinentalOther Total
DivisionAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoals
Barcelona B2017–18Segunda División3030
2018–19Segunda División B320320
2019–20212212
Total562562
Barcelona2018–19La Liga2010000030
2019–20110400000150
2020–21141404020241
2021–22151102000181
Total4221006020602
LA Galaxy2022MLS1030020123
20232973121349
202422830258
Total611831717120
Career total15720131609118522

Honours

Barcelona Youth

2017–18[22]

Barcelona

2018–19[23]

2020–21

Individual

2023,[24] 2024

External links

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Acta del Partido celebrado el 12 de mayo de 2019, en Barcelona . Minutes of the Match held on 12 May 2019, in Barcelona . Royal Spanish Football Federation . 13 June 2019 . es.
  2. Web site: Riqui Puig. La Liga. 8 July 2022.
  3. Web site: Riqui Puig. FC Barcelona. 8 July 2022.
  4. Web site: Riqui Puig, otro pequeño 'jugón'. Riqui Puig, another little 'baller'. Mundo Deportivo. es. 20 February 2014. 2 March 2018.
  5. Web site: Debut muy prometedor de Riqui Puig con el Barça B. Very promising debut of Riqui Puig with Barça B. Sport. es. 24 February 2018. 2 March 2018.
  6. Web site: Riqui Puig given professional contract and €100m release clause by Barcelona. Marca. 11 June 2018. 13 July 2020.
  7. Web site: Riqui Puig makes official debut. FC Barcelona. 5 December 2018. 6 December 2018.
  8. Web site: Reserve-heavy Barcelona held at Huesca. Marca. 13 April 2019. 13 July 2020.
  9. Web site: Barça B 2 Prat 2: Cruel end to a great performance. FC Barcelona. 14 September 2019. 13 July 2020.
  10. Web site: Riqui Puig y Araujo ya son jugadores del primer equipo. Riqui Puig are already first team players. Diario AS. es. 5 October 2020. 18 October 2020.
  11. Web site: Clark. Gill. 14 January 2021. Riqui Puig says he was 'desperate' to take Barcelona penalty. 14 January 2021. Barca Blaugranes. en.
  12. Web site: 'It's been a difficult year for me, I needed this goal': Riqui Puig opens up on debut Barca strike. Tribuna. 24 January 2021. 24 January 2021.
  13. Web site: LA Galaxy sign Riqui Puig from Barcelona on free transfer. ESPN. 4 August 2022. 25 December 2022.
  14. News: Baxter . Kevin . 19 August 2022 . In Riqui Puig's debut with Galaxy, they escape with a tie against Sounders . . 4 January 2023.
  15. News: 31 August 2022 . Riqui Puig's late goal helps Galaxy earn tie in Toronto . . 4 January 2023.
  16. News: Baxter . Kevin . 14 October 2022 . Riqui Puig and Gastón Brugman are the force behind the Galaxy's rejuvenation . Los Angeles Times . 4 January 2023.
  17. News: Baxter . Kevin . 1 November 2022 . Galaxy upbeat knowing most starters will return, including Riqui Puig and 'Chicharito' . Los Angeles Times . 4 January 2023.
  18. News: LA Galaxy Sign Midfielder Riqui Puig to Contract Extension. LA Galaxy. 31 May 2024. 31 May 2024.
  19. News: Segura. Alejandro. 6 December 2018. Riqui Puig is a 'small madman' who walks freely at the Camp Nou. en. Marca. Barcelona. 10 March 2019. Geoff. Gillingham.
  20. Web site: GOALS Secures $20 Million To Give Football Esports 'The Game It Deserves' . Matt . Gardner . April 19, 2023 . . April 21, 2023 .
  21. Web site: Riqui Puig » Club matches . WorldFootball.Net . 29 January 2021 . 18 January 2023.
  22. Web site: Chelsea 0–3 Barcelona. UEFA.com. 13 July 2020.
  23. Web site: Riqui Puig, Ricard Puig Martí - Footballer. 25 November 2020. www.bdfutbol.com.
  24. Web site: 2023 MLS All-Star Team Roster. Major League Soccer. July 18, 2023. July 7, 2023.