There is a common reference that fans of Boca carried out on social networks when the club, out of context, appears on differential sites. “Booooca” is usually heard (with the long ‘o’ and often with the beginning of the phonetically modified word) or read immediately accompanied by a video or image. This Tuesday, in Mexico, it was the president himself Juan Roman Riquelme the protagonist of a repetition of this event, since he did not forget his club when enter the International Soccer Hall of Fame.
“It is a joy to be here and a luxury to receive this distinction. When I was little I only dreamed of being a footballer, so I never imagined that it would bring me things like this. Big kiss to all Boca fans“said Riquelme, Olympic champion in Beijing 2008 with the Argentine National Team.
“It is a very nice moment that I will never forget. I was doing what I loved, it makes me happy that perhaps more than one person liked what I did,” he concluded, before entering the 12th investiture ceremony since the creation of the Football Hall of Fame.
Along with him, there was also the Chilean Ivan Zamorano and the paraguayan José Luis Chilavertwho They led the 2024 generation of legends who entered the International Soccer Hall of Fame, which is endorsed by FIFA and is located in Mexico.
Located in Pachuca, Hidalgo, in the center of this country, it was created in 2011 and received its new members in a ceremony held at the Bicentenario theater in León, Guanajuato, also in central Mexico.
Riquelme, Zamorano and Chilavert were three of the figures most requested by fans looking for a photograph or autograph before entering to receive their distinction. The Chilean described the recognition as food for his soul.
“It is a privilege to receive this award. It has been a wonderful 20 years of career and these awards are like a kiss to the soul that brighten the heart,” said the bronze medalist at the 2000 Sydney Olympic Games and former Real Madrid figure.
A joy that José Luis Chilavert shared. “Being recognized as a living legend is like the World Cup that I couldn’t win with Paraguay. I say it like that because it is not common to be recognized while alive,” said the two-time World Cup player who is considered the best Paraguayan goalkeeper in history.
The rest of the international figures who were not present due to different commitments were Diego Simeonecurrent coach of Atlético de Madrid, the Italian Andrea Pirloworld champion in 2006; the german Oliver Kahnfour-time World Cup winner and Euro 1996 champion; and english David Beckhamthree-time World Cup winner and current owner of Inter Miami.
German was entered in the dean modality Sepp Maierworld champion in 1974, and the American Kristine Lilly.
The figures who shone in Mexican soccer and gained entry are the Chilean Rodrigo ‘Pony’ Ruiz, the Brazilian Antonio Naelson Sinhathe Argentine Hernan Cristante and the Mexicans Ricardo Peláez, Omar Bravo y Carlos Salcido.
The Hall of Fame has among its members legends such as Skin, Diego Armando Maradona, Alfredo Di Stefano, Zinedine Zidane, Garrincha, Eusebio, Lev Yashin y Santiago Bernabéuamong others.