Last Updated on September 22, 2026 by Laurinda Jocias
Antonio Riquelme is a Chilean-American professional footballer who plays as a midfielder for Real Salt Lake. Born on August 8, 2008, in San Diego, California, Riquelme developed his football career in the United States but grew up with a strong connection to Chile through his parents. That family heritage ultimately played an important role in his decision to represent Chile internationally.
Antonio is the son of two Chilean parents, although their names have not been publicly disclosed by reliable sources. He has spoken particularly warmly about his father, whom he immediately called when he learned that Chile wanted him in its youth national-team program. Riquelme also has a large extended family in Chile. However, authoritative sources do not currently identify any brothers or sisters, and as of now he has not publicly confirmed a girlfriend, wife or children.
Does Antonio Riquelme Have a Girlfriend?
As of now, Antonio Riquelme has not publicly confirmed having a girlfriend. Reliable profiles from Real Salt Lake and interviews published by established Chilean sports media do not identify a romantic partner.
Riquelme began attracting media attention while still a minor, and the overwhelming majority of coverage has focused on his football development, his dual nationality and his decision to represent Chile.
There is therefore no reliable basis for identifying someone as his girlfriend through photographs, social-media interactions or comments alone. Unless Antonio chooses to publicly disclose a relationship, his romantic life is best treated as private.
Is Antonio Riquelme Married?
There is no reliable public information indicating that Antonio Riquelme is married.
Riquelme turned 18 in August 2026 and remains at the beginning of his professional career. Neither Real Salt Lake nor Chilean national-team coverage identifies a wife or fiancée.
Does Antonio Riquelme Have Children?
As of now, there is no reliable public confirmation that Antonio Riquelme has children.
No established club or national-team source identifies him as a father. His publicly documented family story therefore remains centered primarily on his parents and relatives in Chile.
Who Are Antonio Riquelme’s Parents?
Antonio Riquelme was born in the United States to Chilean parents. This is consistently confirmed by Real Salt Lake-related coverage and major Chilean sports publications.
Although Riquelme was born and developed as a footballer in the United States, his parents ensured that Chile remained an important part of his identity. He has visited the country and has said that his family still has many relatives living there.
That connection eventually became especially significant when the Chilean Football Federation began following his development with Real Salt Lake.
The names of Antonio’s mother and father have not been reliably published, so attaching names found through unrelated social-media profiles or surname searches would be speculative.
Antonio Riquelme’s Father
Antonio Riquelme has spoken publicly about his father, although he has not revealed his name in the major interviews currently available.
His father played an important role during Antonio’s decision to become involved with Chile’s youth national teams.
Before Riquelme joined La Roja, Chilean youth coach Sebastián Miranda confirmed that the federation had been in contact with Antonio’s father while assessing whether the young midfielder would participate in a Chile training camp.
Miranda explained that the national-team staff wanted eligible dual-national players to experience the environment before making longer-term decisions. Antonio’s father was therefore involved in those early discussions.
Antonio Called His Father After Chile Contacted Him
One of the clearest indications of Antonio’s relationship with his father came when the midfielder learned that Chile wanted him in the national-team setup.
Antonio told AS Chile that Nicolás Córdova sent him a message regarding the opportunity. His immediate reaction was to call his father.
Riquelme recalled that his father was extremely happy because representing Chile had been Antonio’s dream for years.
The moment illustrates that his international decision was not something disconnected from his family. His Chilean roots had clearly been part of his upbringing long before he received an official invitation from La Roja.
Antonio Riquelme’s Mother
Antonio Riquelme’s mother is also Chilean, but her name and personal background have not been publicly documented by reliable sources.
Major profiles consistently describe Antonio as the child of a Chilean father and mother, giving him the family connection required to represent Chile despite being born in California.
However, there is no sufficiently reliable information about his mother’s profession, birthplace within Chile or personal history.
Because she is a private individual, those details should not be filled in using social-media speculation.
Antonio Riquelme’s Chilean Family Heritage
Riquelme’s family heritage is one of the defining elements of his football identity. He was born in San Diego, California, but both of his parents are Chilean.
That gave him a connection to two countries from birth. His football education took place almost entirely in the United States, while his family maintained cultural and personal ties to Chile.
Antonio has said that he visited Chile on vacation when he was younger and that his family has many relatives living in the country.
He has also expressed an interest in seeing more of Chile, mentioning Puerto Varas as one destination he would like to visit.
Why Antonio Riquelme Chose Chile
Riquelme’s choice to represent Chile was strongly linked to his family identity.
Before joining La Roja, he had also attracted attention from the United States youth setup. Real Salt Lake announced in early 2025 that he had been involved in the U.S. U-17 national-team picture as an alternate for Concacaf qualifying.
However, Chile increasingly pursued the midfielder because of his parents’ nationality and his strong personal desire to represent the country.
When Chile invited him into the U-17 program in 2025, Riquelme made it clear that wearing the red shirt was something he had wanted for a long time.
He subsequently committed to the Chilean youth setup and represented the country at the 2025 FIFA U-17 World Cup in Qatar.
Antonio Riquelme’s Father and Chile’s National-Team Staff
Chile’s recruitment of Riquelme was not carried out solely through conversations with the player.
Before his first involvement, coach Sebastián Miranda publicly revealed that members of the national-team staff had spoken with Antonio’s father.
This was significant because Riquelme was still only 16 at the time. His parents therefore remained closely involved in decisions concerning international travel, training camps and which national-team environment he would experience.
That family involvement eventually resulted in Antonio traveling to Chile, joining the youth squad and beginning the international career he had hoped for.
Does Antonio Riquelme Have Siblings?
As of now, reliable public sources do not confirm whether Antonio Riquelme has brothers or sisters.
Interviews discussing his Chilean heritage repeatedly mention his parents and extended family but do not identify a sibling.
This does not mean Riquelme is necessarily an only child. It simply means that any brothers or sisters he may have have remained outside the public spotlight.
The Riquelme surname is common in Chile, making it particularly important not to connect Antonio to other athletes or individuals simply because they have the same surname.
Is Antonio Riquelme Related to Juan Román Riquelme?
There is no reliable evidence that Antonio Riquelme is related to Argentine football legend Juan Román Riquelme.
The shared surname can naturally create confusion, particularly because both are attacking midfielders associated with creativity and passing.
However, Antonio’s documented family heritage is Chilean, while Juan Román Riquelme is Argentine. No authoritative source has identified a family relationship between them.
Antonio Riquelme’s Extended Family in Chile
Although Antonio has not publicly provided a detailed family tree, he has confirmed that he has a large number of relatives in Chile.
He visited the country as a child, giving him firsthand experience of the country long before football brought him back as a youth international.
Those family links help explain why his decision to represent Chile was not simply a sporting opportunity. It also allowed him to represent the country from which his parents and wider family come.
Antonio Riquelme’s Childhood in California
Antonio was born in San Diego, California, on August 8, 2008.
Despite his Chilean family background, his football development took place primarily within the American soccer system.
Riquelme eventually entered the Real Salt Lake Academy, where he developed into a technically gifted attacking midfielder.
His preferred role is as a creative number 10, although he can operate in different midfield positions.
Antonio has described his playing style as being centered around passing, shooting and creating goals. Among his Chilean football inspirations, he has specifically mentioned Jorge Valdivia and Matías Fernández.
Antonio Riquelme Supports Universidad de Chile
Riquelme’s connection with Chile also extends to domestic football.
He has publicly said that he supports Universidad de Chile and follows the club’s matches from the United States.
He has also praised midfielder Charles Aránguiz, another indication that Chilean football remained familiar to him despite his upbringing in California.
That interest helps explain why joining La Roja felt natural rather than being a decision based solely on international eligibility.
Antonio Riquelme’s Experience With Crystal Palace
Riquelme’s development has also taken him outside the United States.
In late 2024, Real Salt Lake sent the midfielder to England for a trial period with Crystal Palace.
Antonio spent approximately two weeks training within the Premier League club’s academy environment and participated with its U-18 and U-21 groups.
He later said he was impressed by the facilities, the technical ability of the players and the speed at which the game was played.
The experience provided an early look at European football before his professional breakthrough in the United States.
Antonio Riquelme’s First Professional Steps
Riquelme progressed from the Real Salt Lake Academy into Real Monarchs during the 2025 season.
He made six MLS NEXT Pro appearances during his rookie professional campaign and also featured in the Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup.
His first professional goal came against El Farolito when he entered at halftime and scored an equalizer shortly afterward.
At academy level, Riquelme also became captain of Real Salt Lake’s U-18 team, demonstrating the leadership qualities the organization saw in him.
Antonio Riquelme at the 2025 FIFA U-17 World Cup
Riquelme’s family connection to Chile eventually took him onto one of youth football’s biggest stages.
After establishing himself within the Chilean U-17 setup, he was selected for the 2025 FIFA U-17 World Cup in Qatar.
Antonio appeared in all three of Chile’s group matches. Although La Roja did not advance to the knockout rounds, the tournament represented an important milestone for a player who had grown up thousands of miles away in the United States.
It also fulfilled part of the dream he had shared with his father when Chile initially contacted him.
Antonio Riquelme Signs With Real Salt Lake
Riquelme’s club career took another major step when Real Salt Lake promoted him onto an MLS contract for the 2026 season.
The club announced him alongside fellow academy products Griffin Dillon and Diego Rocío.
Riquelme publicly thanked his family, as well as his friends, teammates, coaches and staff, for supporting him on the journey to his first-team opportunity.
That message offered another indication that his parents and relatives had remained an important support system throughout his development.
Antonio Riquelme’s Continued Connection With Chile
Moving to Real Salt Lake’s senior roster did not end Riquelme’s connection with Chile.
In September 2026, he was selected for Chile’s squad for the South American Games, making him the only member of that particular squad playing his club football outside Chile.
By then, the midfielder had already established a consistent pattern of involvement with Chilean youth national teams following his U-17 World Cup experience.
His development demonstrates how strongly his parents’ heritage has influenced his sporting identity despite his American birthplace.
Why So Little Is Known About Antonio Riquelme’s Family
Riquelme only turned 18 in 2026 and spent virtually his entire rise through academy and professional soccer as a minor.
For that reason, Real Salt Lake and other organizations have primarily published information concerning his football achievements rather than personal details about his relatives.
His mother and father also appear to prefer remaining outside the public spotlight.
The responsible approach is therefore to distinguish between information Antonio has actually confirmed — such as having two Chilean parents and extensive family in Chile — and details such as parental names or siblings that remain undocumented.
Frequently Asked Questions About Antonio Riquelme’s Family
Who are Antonio Riquelme’s parents?
Antonio Riquelme is the son of two Chilean parents. Their names have not been reliably published by established sources.
Who is Antonio Riquelme’s father?
Antonio’s father is Chilean but has remained a private individual. Antonio called him immediately after learning about his opportunity with Chile, and Chile’s youth coaching staff also spoke with his father before Riquelme joined La Roja.
Who is Antonio Riquelme’s mother?
Antonio Riquelme’s mother is also Chilean. Her name, occupation and detailed personal background have not been reliably disclosed.
Does Antonio Riquelme have siblings?
As of now, reliable public sources do not confirm whether Antonio Riquelme has brothers or sisters.
Does Antonio Riquelme have a girlfriend?
As of now, Antonio Riquelme has not publicly confirmed a girlfriend through reliable sources.
Is Antonio Riquelme married?
There is no reliable public information indicating that Antonio Riquelme is married.
Does Antonio Riquelme have children?
As of now, no reliable public source confirms that Antonio Riquelme has children.
Is Antonio Riquelme Chilean?
Riquelme is Chilean-American. He was born in San Diego, California, to two Chilean parents and has represented Chile at youth international level.
Does Antonio Riquelme have family in Chile?
Yes. Riquelme has said that he has a large extended family in Chile and visited the country when he was younger.
Why does Antonio Riquelme play for Chile?
Riquelme is eligible through both of his Chilean parents. He has said that representing Chile had been a dream for years, and he chose La Roja after being contacted by its youth national-team program.
Is Antonio Riquelme related to Juan Román Riquelme?
No reliable source identifies a family relationship between Antonio Riquelme and former Argentina star Juan Román Riquelme.
Where was Antonio Riquelme born?
Antonio Riquelme was born in San Diego, California, on August 8, 2008.
Laurinda Jocias is a football writer covering English women’s football, including the Women’s Super League. Her work focuses on players, clubs, and the continued development of the women’s game in the UK.
