Richard Ríos targeted by rumours in Colombia
Allegations link the Colombia forward’s private life to behaviour in Lisbon while on Benfica duty; no confirmation from player or clubs.
Colombian tabloids have in recent days published allegations that Colombia national team forward Richard Ríos is homosexual, a claim that has focused public attention and social-media debate on October 9, 2026.
Ríos, a regular in the national team setup, is currently playing for Al Ittihad on loan from Benfica. The reports circulating in Colombia point to episodes from his time in Lisbon as the basis for the rumours.
Context and the circulated message
The speculation reached a wider audience after a social-media post on October 5, 2026, which stated: "Richard Ríos comments on rumors about an affair with another man." The post has been shared across platforms, fuelling the discussion but offering no substantiating evidence.
In Colombia Ríos remains an especially popular figure, and stories about his private life attract significant attention. The outlets publishing the claims rely largely on anecdotal suggestions about his behaviour while at Benfica in Portugal.
There has been no authoritative confirmation of the allegation. Neither the player nor his current or former clubs, nor the Colombian football federation, have released statements verifying the claims, and the matter remains unproven.
Photo: press material from the event
