Diogo Richelieu

The record of Diogo Riquelme's debut is precise almost to the minute: 9 February 2025, Campeonato Paranaense, Athletico Paranaense against Maringá, a 3-2 win, and he came off the bench late in the match to replace João Cruz. For a midfielder who had spent the previous two years working through Athletico Paranaense's youth ranks, that substitution marked the actual start of his senior career.

Riquelme was born in Ferraz de Vasconcelos, in the state of São Paulo, and came through the academy system at two of Brazilian football's biggest producers of young talent before settling at Athletico Paranaense. He spent two years with Palmeiras' youth setup between 2016 and 2018, then moved to Red Bull Bragantino's academy, where he stayed until 2022. In 2023 he joined Athletico Paranaense's youth ranks, a switch that, in the context of Brazilian football, reflects the kind of internal academy-to-academy transfer common among clubs developing young players rather than a high-profile signing.

He wears the number 63 shirt, a number typically associated with young players still establishing themselves in a first-team squad. The club has shown its confidence in his development through his contract situation: his deal, initially set to run to the end of 2028, was extended in August 2025 and then extended again less than a year later, in July 2026, pushing his terms out to the end of 2029.

On the pitch, his senior involvement so far has been limited but steady. By the end of January 2026 he had made 11 appearances for Athletico Paranaense, scoring once. It is a modest return in raw numbers, consistent with a player still working his way from the academy into regular first-team football.