Rafael Márquez

This is a Mexican footballer. For the Mexican Boxer see Rafael Márquez (boxer)

Rafael Márquez

File:Rafael Marquez 15abr2007.jpg
Personal information
Full name	Rafael Márquez Álvarez
Height	1.82 m (5 ft 11+1⁄2 in)
Position(s)	Centre Back, Defensive Midfielder
Team information
Current team	FC Barcelona
‡ National team caps and goals, correct as of July 12, 2007

Rafael Márquez Álvarez, better known as Rafa Márquez (born on February 13, 1979 in Zamora, Michoacán) is an international Mexican football player, specializing as both a centre back and defensive midfielder, who is currently playing for FC Barcelona in the Spanish La Liga and for the Mexican national team as their team captain.

Career

Rafael Márquez began his career at Mexican club Atlas de Guadalajara, for whom he debuted in 1996 at only 17 years old. Márquez rose to prominence while with Atlas, making 77 appearances for the team and being runner-up in the league losing the final against Club Toluca in penalties. He debuted for the Mexican national team, before moving on in 1999. In that year, French club Monaco purchased Márquez for €6 million. Márquez was an immediate success with Monaco, helping lead the team to the French title in his first season with the club. Despite pressures from larger clubs, Márquez would remain with the club until 2003, when Barcelona purchased him for €25 million.

In his first season with Barcelona, Márquez appeared 21 times, helping the team to a second place finish in La Liga. During his second season he was moved from his typical position as a central defender to the defensive mid-field, due to injuries to players Motta, Edmilson and Gerard. He completed a great season, being one of the main players that helped Barcelona win its 17th Spanish League on May 14 2005 after a 1-1 tie with Levante. After an injury in his left knee, he returned after a month to play against Milan in the first leg of the 2006 UEFA Champions League Semifinal. Barcelona, the away team, won 1-0. On May 17 2006, he won the UEFA Champions League with Barcelona, making him the first ever Mexican football player to do so. After the 2006 FIFA World Cup, Rafael Marquez renovated his contract to 38.5 million dollars for 4 years in FC Barcelona, ending his contract in June 2010. Despite having many injuries, Rafa was rumored to be up for sale at the end of the 2006\2007 season. His future at Barcelona was up in the air until the 2007 Copa America, where Rafa regained his best form and was one of the best players of the competition, helping Mexico to an acceptable 3rd place. After the 2007 Copa America, Marquez was taken off the market and went back to training with his teammates.

International Career

Since making his international debut on February 5, 1997 against Ecuador, Márquez has been one of the Mexican national football team's most important players and captain. Marquez has played various tournament's with the Mexican team, in which he became champion in the 1999 FIFA Confederations Cup beating Brazil in the Aztec Stadium in Mexico City. Also Rafa was part of the 2003 Squad of the CONCACAF Gold Cup, where Mexico also became Champion. As a captain of his country, he started all four of the team's games in the 2002 FIFA World Cup (though he was ejected during his country's 2-0 loss to the United States for a deliberate headbutt on Cobi Jones), and has been an integral part of two World Cup Qualifying campaigns.

After four years Rafael Márquez was selected by Argentinian coach Ricardo Lavolpe in the 23 Mexican squad for the 2006 FIFA World Cup in Germany. During the World Cup Germany tournament, Rafael " Rafa " Márquez played in all of the four matches, and scored the lone Mexican goal in a 2-1 loss to Argentina in the Round of 16. Since Mexico's second round exit, he has spoken out about the need to encourage future Mexican football players to play in Europe to increase the competitiveness of the team.

After the 2006 FIFA World Cup, Rafael Marquez renovated his contract to 38.5 million dollars for 4 years in FC Barcelona, ending his contract in June 2010. Rafa Márquez scored his ninth goal for El Tri on March 28 2007 and FIFA highly ranked Rafa Marquez as the third most famous soccer star player in the world and earning a paycheck of 10 to 15 million dollars a year. Recently, Mexican coach and famous player Hugo Sanchez asked Rafa Marquez for his services to be in the 2007 CONCACAF Gold Cup, and the 2007 Copa America. Rafa joined Mexico in the Final stage of the Gold Cup against the United States after the conclusion of La Liga and played a full game. Mexico lost 2-1.

Italian Team Offers

As of February, 2007 rumours from Spanish and Italian press have linked Rafael Marquez leaving to Milan after the 2006/2007 Liga finishes, although he has a 38.5 million dollar contract with Barcelona until 2010. Recently Juventus, also wants his services next year where Juventus would be coming to the Serie A.

With the new signing of Gabriel Milito from Real Zaragoza, rumors have surfaced that he would be considered surplus by coach Barcelona Frank Rijkaard. Juventus, AC Milan, and Atletico Madrid have all been linked to Marquez. Now that the transfer season is over, he will stay at Barcelona for at least another half season. He started the second league match for Barcelona, which could mean he beat out Gabriel Milito or Lilian Thuram for the starting job. Although some could argue that he was never in danger of losing the starting job in the first place.

Trivia

At The 2004 Athens Olimpic Games, He Scored The Firt goal of the 3 in the Only victory of the Tournament the game ended Argentina, 2 - 3 México

• At the 2006 FIFA World Cup, in the round of 16, against Argentina, he scored, and as his celebration he put his thumb in his mouth, dedicating his goal to his son.
• Marquez made his 100th appearance with Barcelona, playing the Classic derby, against archrival Real Madrid.
• At the early age of 22 he married Mexican Actress Adriana Lavat, who was 27 years old; But after 5 years of marriage and two children, Rafa filed for divorce in early February 2007; this was Rafa's first marriage/divorce and Adriana's second.
• He has two children: Santiago and Rafaela, who he had with Adriana Lavat.
• Rafa is one of Frank Rijkaard's favorite players, alongside Ronaldinho and Samuel Eto'o.
• Brazilian Ronaldinho once stated that Marquez was one if not his best friend at FC Barcelona.

Honours

International:

Mexico

• FIFA Confederations Cup: (1999)
• CONCACAF Gold Cup: (2003)

Club:

AS Monaco FC

• Ligue 1 (2000)
• Super Cup (2000)
• Coupe de la Ligue (2003)

FC Barcelona

• Sub-Campeon FIFA World Club Championship in 2006
• La Liga (2005, 2006)
• Super Cup (2005, 2006)
• UEFA Champions League (2006)

Individual:

• Best defender in the French league in the 1999-2000 season.
• Best North American soccer player in 2005.
• 3rd Most Popular Player in the World in 2006 (IFFHS).

Career Stats

As of October 11, 2007

All-Time Club Performance

Club	Season	League		Cup		Europe		Total
		Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals
Atlas	1996-97	24	2			-	-	24	2
	1997-98	20	1			-	-	20	1
	1998-99	33	3			-	-	33	3
	Total	77	6			-	-	77	6
Monaco	1999-00	23	3					23	3
	2000-01	15	1					15	1
	2001-02	19	0					19	0
	2002-03	30	1					30	1
	Total	87	5					87	5
Barcelona	2003-04	23	1			3	0	26	1
	2004-05	34	3			6	0	40	3
	2005-06	25	0			8	0	33	0
	2006-07	21	1	5	0	6	0	32	1
	2007-08	6	1	0	0	2	0	8	1
	Total	109	6	5	0	25	0	139	6
Career totals		271	17	5	0	25	0	302	17

External Links

• Rafael Márquez Official Site (In Spanish)
• FCBarcelona.cat - Official website Template:Ca icon / Template:Es icon / Template:En icon / Template:Jp icon / Template:Zh icon
• Rafael Márquez Article (In Spanish)
• Football Database.com provides Rafael Márquez's profile and stats
• Template:Es icon Tribute to Rafael Marquez