"The definitve statement of Riquelme is Argentina's goal against Serbia." - Tim Vickery
The masterpiece that BBC South American football expert touched upon on Off The Ball last night has to go down as one of my all-time favourites.
For any appreciators of team goals, Esteban Cambiasso's coup de graçe as Argentina bared its footballing soul against Serbia and Montenegro at the 2006 World Cup is a thing of beauty, caressing a litany of tender passes together, before applying the finishing touch on to the canvas with the goal.
But it was Juan Roman Riquelme's role as the conductor of the orchestra which really rang loudest, as you can relive:
Riquelme can be viewed as something of a "footballing nearly man", as Tim said, and 2006 encapsulates that like no other year in his career.
It was the point at which he really hit the high notes on a global stage. Indeed had it not been for a bit of luck at key points, perhaps it could have led him to be regarded at the same level as Zinedine Zidane, who led France to World Cup glory in 1998 and almost single-handedly dragged Les Bleus to the pinnacle again in 2006 (the latter tournament was even more impressive on the whole from Zizou).
Before that World Cup in Germany even kicked off, Riquelme had already faced the nemesis who would play the biggest role in dashing his dreams: former Arsenal and Germany goalkeeper Jens Lehmann.
With a team built around his tones and other-worldly groove at Villarreal, the Boca Juniors icon came so close to putting small-town Yellow Submarine into the 2006 Champions League final.
But as has happened to so many of the big names in football, from Michel Platini to Roberto Baggio, a missed penalty would sink Villarreal's chances of an incredible achievement.
With the aggregate score at 1-0 to Arsenal in the second leg of the European semi-final, the Spanish side won a late penalty. Riquelme, entrusted with the task of taking the kick, faced Lehmann. Forcing extra-time was the carrot for the former Barcelona misfit but the German would not take the bait.
It is tantalising to think how Riquelme would have been lauded had he guided Villarreal past Arsenal - but also had he inspired the Valencian club to the unprecedented step of beating Barcelona to the Champions League trophy in Paris.
Given the fact that he was the spark and footballing conscience of the team, it would have projected him into the stratosphere.
At least the World Cup the following month gave Riquelme the chance to make up for the penalty miss against Arsenal. And up until the quarter-finals at least, he provided flourishes of artistry under the management of his former U20 mentor Jose Pekerman.
Riquelme topped the 2006 World Cup charts for assists with four. But then Lehmann again scuppered his - and Argentina's - chances.
Although he had created the opening goal of the game (a set-piece for defender Roberto Ayala to apply the finishing touch) Riquelme could not stamp his authority on the quarter-final against hosts Germany.
As Argentina led 1-0, Pekerman decided to take off his languid playmaker and replace him with the more defensive Cambiasso with 20 minutes to go.
However, Germany got the vital equaliser through Miroslav Klose barely 10 minutes later and with Riquelme watching on from the bench, Lehmann made vital saves in the penalty shootout to dump La Albiceleste out:
History placed Italy in the way of Germany in that semi-final, but based on the form shown by Argentina in the early part of the tournament, Pekerman's men could have overcome that challenge and reached the final. Who knows what would have happened then. And who knows how the ultimate playmaker in Riquelme would have been remembered if he had got his hands on the trophy.
But as Tim said on Off The Ball: "Riquelme's significance goes far beyond the list of clubs and titles."
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