15 Things You Didn’t Know About Mexican Soccer Star Rafael
Marquez Alvarez
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| 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
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