Just when Kaka was being talked about as the world´s best player — Cristiano Ronaldo having some way to go yet — Riquelme returns to his best form and inspires Boca Juniors to another continental title, while at the same time saying he’ll return for Argentina too.

Perhaps we will never know just how much that missed penalty against Arsenal more than a year ago affected Riquelme. Argentina´s World Cup hopes a couple of months later hung firmly from his shoulders and although he impressed European observers he never satisfied Argentines. They had seen much better, particularly in the South American context. He has to orchestrate, he also has to play high up as his goals for Boca show.

Riquelme’s return, confirmed on Thursday, is a chance for Alfio Basile to shelve his experiment with Messi in the “media punta” role. Instead, he can rely on Riquleme in the Copa America with Messi coming from deep positions on the right.* With them, plus Tevez and Crespo up front, Argentina could afford a few more of those 4-3 wins like the one against Algeria in their last friendly!

Surprisingly, Riquleme remains unwanted by Villarreal, who loaned him to Boca in February. Tevez, Kaka, Samuel Eto’o, Ronaldinho and Deco are all regularly talked about in the media as transfer targets for Europe’s biggest clubs. Riquelme is rarely if ever mentioned but after this latest virtuoso display perhaps that will now change.  

Rex Gowar, London

* There’s an early look at what the return of Messi will mean at pasion albiceleste.