Rizky Ridho Ramadhani, born on November 21, 2001, in Surabaya, rose from humble beginnings with an inspiring story.
At just seven years old, young Ridho was already kicking a ball on the streets in front of his house, though he hadn’t yet dreamt of becoming a professional player.
We played in front of wealthy people’s houses in the complex. If they scolded us, we’d leave, but if no one was around, we’d keep playing.
His serious aspirations of becoming a soccer player began to take shape at the age of 12, after his father took him to watch Persebaya play live in a stadium.
That was when I started dreaming of becoming a professional footballer.
Hansaamu, a Persebaya player at the time, became his idol and the early inspiration for his long journey in football.
Rizky began his career in Surabaya’s youth competitions and joined SSB Simo Putra before advancing to Persebaya Surabaya’s academy in 2018. At 15, he faced a major dilemma, having to leave school for a month to focus on soccer. However, his path wasn’t always smooth. In a Suratin Cup tournament with Persesa Sampang, his coach didn’t trust him enough to play. Even during a trial match against Deltras Sidoarjo, where his parents came to watch, he remained on the bench.
My parents began questioning whether I really wanted to focus on football or go back to school.
But Ridho stood firm. He told his parents:
I want to be a football player. I’m serious about it, and I’ll work hard to achieve it.
After playing for various small regional clubs in East Java, he eventually passed the selection for Persebaya’s junior team in 2020, marking a pivotal year as he debuted with Persebaya U-19.
A significant opportunity to play for Indonesia’s national team came unexpectedly. At first, Ridho thought the news about his national team tryout he saw on social media was fake. But once Persebaya received an official letter, he believed it and joined the selection process with 60 other players.
I was shocked when I actually got called up. The selection wasn’t easy, but I’m grateful to have made it.
Ridho made his international debut with Indonesia U-19 at the 2019 AFF Championship and even captained the team during a friendly match against Bulgaria. His senior debut came on May 29, 2021, in a match against Oman.
One of his most memorable experiences was enduring grueling training camps.
The training was so intense. We’d train in the morning, eat, rest, then play friendlies. Even the 30 minutes on the bus were used for sleeping, there was no time for phones.
Though he sometimes felt like giving up, the coaches’ encouragement to push beyond their limits was a major source of motivation.
Ridho’s career at Persebaya flourished. He was part of the team that won the Elite Pro Academy U-20 title in 2019 and made his senior league debut on March 13, 2020, against Persipura Jayapura. By the end of the 2022–2023 season, he had 38 appearances and three goals for Persebaya.
In July 2023, Ridho embarked on a new chapter, signing a three-year contract with Persija Jakarta. His debut came just days later against PSM Makassar, followed by his first goal for the club during a draw against Borneo Samarinda on August 9, 2023.
Internationally, Ridho has been a consistent performer, earning 45 caps and scoring four goals for the senior national team as of November 2024. One historic moment was becoming the youngest center-back to play in a FIFA World Cup Qualifier on June 3, 2021, against Thailand, at just 19 years, 7 months, and 10 days old.
His extraordinary contributions helped Indonesia advance to the third round of the 2026 World Cup Qualifiers. With 14 appearances, he was the team’s most-capped player during the campaign. However, he faced a deep disappointment when the team failed to meet their six-point target against Bahrain and China.
We were confident going into the match against China, but the results were disappointing. Every player felt let down, but it was a huge lesson.
That setback was redeemed in subsequent games. Despite losing to Japan, a team far superior to Indonesia in quality, Ridho helped Indonesia secure a victory against Saudi Arabia at Gelora Bung Karno in November 2024.
Ridho’s journey with Indonesia’s national team continues. He has vowed to help Indonesia qualify for the 2026 World Cup.
Beyond the field, Ridho values education. He is pursuing a degree in Management at Muhammadiyah University of Surabaya through an athlete scholarship. For him, education is an important asset, equal to his soccer career.
Rizky Ridho epitomizes dedication and perseverance. From the narrow alleys of Surabaya to becoming a cornerstone of Indonesia’s defense, he has proven that big dreams can be achieved with relentless effort. With a market value reaching 500,000 euros, he stands as one of the highest-valued players in Liga 1 and an inspiration to Indonesia’s youth.
