L.A. Galaxy's Riqui Puig faced his Barcelona demons in Inter Miami clash
When Riqui Puig of the L.A. Galaxy stepped up to take a penalty kick against Inter Miami on Sunday night, he had more to consider than just his shot.
A goal by the 24-year-old against Inter Miami's star-studded lineup of FC Barcelona veterans would indirectly earn him a measure of revenge. In August 2022, Barcelona sent Puig to Los Angeles on a free transfer, a stunning move.
Instead of scoring, though, Puig fired a tepid shot straight at the diving Drake Callender. The camera lingered on Puig after the miss, and his body language said it all — the young Spaniard looked defeated.
That body language returned in the 94th minute of the game when Barcelona legends Jordi Alba and Lionel Messi combined for a stunning injury-time goal to level the game at 1-1, the final score. After 18 months in the States, Puig couldn't catch a break against his former Barcelona teammates.
A Barcelona native, Puig joined the club's youth ranks at 14 before making his senior debut five years later. He was beloved on the team for his energy, intelligence and attacking prowess, and in 2020, he became the rare Barcelona youth product to earn his spot on the senior team.
When Spanish star Xavi became head coach of Barcelona in 2020, he called Puig — a close family friend — to tell him how excited he was to coach him.
"There was a close relationship between his parents and my family," Puig told The Athletic.
Puig performed well for Barcelona that season, making appearances in La Liga and the Spanish Cup. But as Xavi's reign continued, Puig found himself used less. When preparations began for the 2022 season, Xavi told Puig his time at Barcelona was over.
"He told me he was not counting on me," Puig said of Xavi. "I believe I was not treated fairly when I came back to training.
"That's what really annoyed me during my last years there. As soon as this happened, I tried to look for my way out pretty quickly."
The L.A. Galaxy offered something unique for Puig: top-level soccer free from the scrutiny of the European media. In a move that shocked European pundits, Puig turned down offers elsewhere in Europe to grow his game in the States. It proved to be a smart decision. Puig has thrived in MLS, winning the L.A. Galaxy's Player of the Year Award in 2023 and cementing himself in the team's starting lineup.
"I'm very happy in Los Angeles, I've always said that," Puig told Spanish newspaper Marca. "L.A. treated me super well when I came and the fans have treated me like one of this great family. I keep saying that the Galaxy is the greatest team in MLS."
When Inter Miami brought its Barcelona stars to Los Angeles on Sunday, Puig was emotional. On one hand, he was excited to see Messi, Alba, Luis Suarez and Sergio Busquets again. On the other, he understandably wanted nothing more than to beat them.
The 1-1 draw was a fair result, with the Galaxy failing to convert its many chances and Inter Miami hanging on until the final minute. But Puig may rue his missed penalty kick all season — not just because it lost the Galaxy the game, but because it cost him a chance to get back at Barcelona for parting with him in 2022.
Puig and the Galaxy will continue their Major League Soccer on Saturday at San Jose.
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