Rafael Márquez

Rafael Márquez Álvarez (Spanish: [rafa%CB%88el ˈmaɾkes]; born 13 February 1979) is a former Mexican professional footballer. He played as a central defender, sweeper, or defensive midfielder. Nicknamed El Káiser, Márquez is regarded as the best defender in Mexico's history and one of the best Mexican players of all time.

Márquez began his career with Atlas in 1996, playing in over 70 games with the club before moving to France in 1999 with Monaco, where he won the Ligue 1 title. In 2003, Márquez transferred to Barcelona, becoming the first ever Mexican to represent the club. He would go on to play in over 200 games during seven seasons with Barcelona, and win numerous championships. In 2006, he became the first Mexican player to win the UEFA Champions League when Barcelona defeated Arsenal in the final. In 2010 Márquez joined the New York Red Bulls of Major League Soccer. After being released from the club in 2012, he moved back to Mexico, this time to play for Club León. After captaining the team to two back-to-back league titles in 2013 and 2014, Márquez transferred to Hellas Verona of the Italian Serie A. He returned to boyhood club Atlas in 2015, and announced his retirement from football in April 2018.

A Mexican international since 1997, Márquez has been capped 145 times for the national team, having won the 1999 FIFA Confederations Cup, and the 2003 and 2011 editions of the CONCACAF Gold Cup. In 2018, he became only the third player to play for his national team in five consecutive editions of the FIFA World Cup, in the 2002, 2006, 2010, 2014 and 2018 editions of the tournament. Márquez is the Mexican player with the most World Cup matches played with 19.

Source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rafael_M%C3%A1rquez

Rafael Márquez Álvarez (Zamora, Michoacán; 13 de febrero de 1979) es un exfutbolista mexicano que jugaba como defensa central y su último club fue el Atlas F. C. de la Primera División de México.

Fue jugador internacional absoluto con la Selección de México desde 1997 hasta su retiro en el Mundial de Rusia 2018. Es el tercer futbolista con mayor cantidad de representaciones internacionales con 148, en Mundiales ostenta el récord compartido de cinco ediciones disputadas, todas como capitán, y el mexicano con más encuentros disputados con diecinueve.

Con la Selección de México fue campeón de la Copa Confederaciones 1999, ganó la Copa Oro en 2003 y 2011, y la Copa Concacaf de 2015. Además logró el subcampeonato de la Copa América 2001.

Fuente: https://es.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rafael_M%C3%A1rquez