Tuesday, June 24, 2014

15 Things About Soccer Star Rafael Marquez Alvarez

15 Things You Didn’t Know About Mexican Soccer Star Rafael Marquez Alvarez
 
Mexico National Football Team
One of the best things about high profile, televised sporting events is getting to know the players and their stories. Everybody has a story. From the poor kid who makes the team but never plays to the elite star who was born from royalty, every story has the same theme – natural talent and hard work. All players who reach the highest levels of competition are born with a natural desire to win and the ability to work hard. However, not all players are born with the talent to take them to the pinnacle of the sport.

Mexican Soccer Star Rafael Marquez Alvarez was born to play soccer. His father, Rafael Márquez Esqueda, was a professional soccer player in Mexico and taught his son everything he would need to know to ascend to the highest levels of soccer stardom. Rafa grew up to be big, fast and aggressive and became known for his fierce defensive skills. Through the course of his career he played with the best teams in Mexico and Europe and even took a weird detour through New York with Red Bull New York of the MLS. Marquez was a controversial figure during his time with Red Bull and was eventually lured away by Leon FC in Guanajuato Mexico in 2013.  

In 2014, Márquez made history by becoming the first player ever to captain his national team in four consecutive FIFA World Cup tournaments. He led team Mexico in 2002, 2006, 2010 and 2014.

Here are a few fun facts to impress your friends while watching the next game:

·      Full Name: Rafael Marquez Alvarez aka Rafa Marquez
·      Position: defensive midfielder
·      Height 6’1”
·      Weight 185 lbs
·      Born February 13, 1979 in Zamora Mexico (age 35)
·      The son of former professional soccer player Rafael Márquez Esqueda
·      Age 17 he made his professional Mexican debut with CS Atlas in 1996
·      Age 20 he made his professional European debut with AS Monaco in 1999
·      Age 24 he was signed by FC Barcelona with a yearly salary of $5 million
·      First player ever to captain a national team in four consecutive World Cups
·      Fastest player on team with reported top speed of 31.03 km/h (FIFA.com)
·      Wife du jour: Jaydy Michel (ex-wife of singer Alejandro Sanz)
·      Random fact: Appeared  in the 2010 World Cup Shakira video Waka Waka
·      Appeared as a guest on talk show Hora Q in 2009
·      Net Worth $25 million

Rafael Marquez Signed Mexico Soccer Ball

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