Still playing until recently, the now 39-year-old Rafa Marquez has often been termed as the greatest Mexican footballer ever.

It’s a grandiose statement, but it’s not without foundation.

A full international, he made almost 150 appearances for El Tri, over a staggering 21-year period. 

Such longevity also allowed him to become only the third player in football history—along with Lothar Matthaus of Germany and Antonio Carbajal of Italy—to play for his national side at five separate editions of the World Cup.

The 2002, 2006, 2010, 2014, and 2018 tournaments all saw a Marquez appearance, and with 19 World Cup matches played in total, that’s another Mexican all-time record he holds.

Having started and finished his career at Atlas, the center back also spent time at Monaco, New York Red Bulls, León, and Hellas Verona.

At each and every one of those he was known as a fearsome competitor and a fine exponent of the central defensive art, however, it’s at Barcelona where he really made his name.

Joining the Catalans in 2003, in the same summer as the transfer of Ronaldinho, Marquez became the first Mexican to ever represent the Blaugrana, a feat in itself.

With 21 appearances in that first campaign, his solidity at the back was one of the main reasons why Barcelona finished second, but in 2004-05 Frank Rijkaard asked him to play a defensive midfield role because of injuries to Gerard Lopez, Edmilson and Thiago Motta.

As was to be expected, there was no drop-off in his performance levels and Marquez once again excelled. A La Liga title came Barca’s way, their 17th, and the Mexican could bask in the knowledge of a job well done.

Indeed, the quality of Marquez’s work ensured that he’d become almost un-droppable, and that’s no mean feat at a club of such stature. 

Tough, uncompromising play, alongside the ability to play Barcelona’s short passing game was an intoxicating mix.

After yet another solid season in 2005-06, disaster would strike when he injured his left knee towards the business end of the campaign.

His absence was noticeable, but fortunately for the Blaugrana, he was able to return after a month, and just in time to play a pivotal role in Barca’s 1-0 win over Milan at the San Siro in the Champions League semifinal first leg.

By the time of the final in Paris against Arsenal, Marquez was back to his brilliant best and played the full 90 minutes as Barcelona came from behind to win only their second European Cup.

By then, he’d earned the moniker “Kaiser of Michoacan,” a nod to the legendary Franz Beckenbauer, another supremely talented central defender who had an elegance to the way he played football which hid a steely edge.

It’s no coincidence that Marquez went on to win 12 titles whilst in Catalonia, and his partnership with Carles Puyol was an absolute joy to behold when both were fit. 

Were he just a few years younger, it’s debatable that Pep Guardiola would’ve even considered bringing Gerard Pique back home; Marquez was that good.

As it was, both Pique and Marquez played more than 35 games each in Pep’s first treble winning season, but one was only beginning his Blaugrana senior team journey whilst the other was coming to an end of his.

Marquez would cruelly miss that season’s Champions League final and the climax to the La Liga and Copa del Rey season, again due to injury.

Just a year later, after making only 14 appearances, he was gone.

Gone, but never forgotten, with Barcelona one of the first to respond to Marquez’s retirement note on Twitter. 

“Thanks Rafa & good luck!” their message read. 

Simple and classy… not unlike their former Mexican stalwart.

Jason Pettigrove is an experienced freelance football journalist, editor, and published author who specializes in La Liga and the major European leagues. Find him on Twitter @jasonpettigrove.