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Joan Laporta and Barça's sports management

have chosen Rafael Márquez

to coach Barcelona Atlètic,

known as Barcelona B until not long ago.

Barcelona's chairman has blind faith in Márquez.

Laporta assures that Márquez has proven he's more than capable

of helping the affiliate youth team's players round out their training

and advance to Barcelona's first team.

JOHAN CRUYFF STADIUM

With his soccer expertise, Rafael Márquez

will help the Barcelona youth team

build competitive moves from the backfield.

My first question would be,

"What does soccer mean to Rafael Márquez?"

What does soccer mean to me?

It means everything.

Let's go all out!

It happens once in a lifetime.

He had an unbeatable track record.

And it's no small feat. We're talking about one of Mexico's

biggest soccer players in the international arena.

He's made history with the Mexican national team.

Knowing I'd play with Rafa

made me very happy. Only I knew that.

He's been one of the best players to come out of soccer.

Just from a glance, we knew what the other would do.

He's been touched by the hand of God.

He's a skilled leader.

He played for the world's top teams.

He's one of the people who changes the most

on and off of the field.

Playing against him was tricky.

To be honest, I preferred playing wherever he wasn't.

Top players are there…

where they have to be.

Today, the Office of Foreign Assets Control

of the US Department of the Treasury

added to the list of individuals who act as frontmen for drug cartels

the Mexican soccer player with the most international titles in history,

Rafael Márquez Álvarez.

Among the names featured on the traffickers list

was Raúl Flores, but the biggest name was Rafael Márquez.

One minute, you're a hero, and the next, you're the worst of criminals.

And Rafa was… devastated.

That media storm

cast doubts about whether his legacy would remain intact.

Today, it's my hardest match.

I'll try to clear this up

as soon as possible

and be the Rafa Márquez you all know.

Two!

Four!

Two and six! Now, don't let them come back!

Now I coach Barça Atlètic.

My main goal with this team

is to help develop the players

so that they can get to the first team.

The ones with the most potential will get there.

But having the experience of being a professional soccer player,

I try to help them

and somehow also be a father figure to them.

Which reminds me a lot of my father, 'cause he also coached,

and he'll surely be proud of this new phase I'm undertaking.

This is a huge opportunity for me.

Interview two, Rafa, take one.

FORMER SOCCER PLAYER AND COACH OF BARCELONA ATLÈTIC

Okay, Rafa.

Tell me who your father was.

Just like that?

That's right.

Okay, my father…

He was born in Tlaquepaque, Jalisco, right next to Guadalajara.

All the clippings, what they said about him,

tell me we're very similar.

Physically, it's impressive how much I resemble my father.

It's the same in soccer.

He came out controlling the ball,

with his chin up and very elegant when it came to playing,

but he was also very tough when he came in.

He made his way to Oro Jalisco, which no longer exists.

He played with second-division teams, such as Irapuato, San Luis, Morelia,

until he landed in Zamora, and they never let him go.

When Rafa was born,

my husband was still playing for the Zamora team.

When he retired, he coached at the Municipal Soccer School

invited by Professor Carlos Sebille Rinaldi,

who once played for Atlas and founded the soccer school.

He invited him to coach at the school.

CARLOS SEBILLE RINALDI ZAMORA MUNICIPAL SOCCER SCHOOL

At the school, Rafa Márquez's dad got involved

with Professor Carlos Sebille out of a shared love of soccer.

They start developing talent,

and that's when he brings Rafa

to be trained at this school.

My dad was everything to me.

He was that father who taught me to play soccer.

And I had this picture in my mind

of wanting to be like my father because he was also a central defender.

So my dream was to become like him.

Say how you feel.

Great, really great!

Well, do your best 'cause you need to win.

We're gonna win.

-We're winning. -We'll win.

-We'll defend well. -Two, three…

Hip, hip, hooray!

Michoacán! Michoacán! Go, go, go!

We played some nationals, tournaments held by the Ministry of Education,

representing Zamora.

Halfway through the school year,

they tell us, "Hey, they want you to go to the Michoacán Team."

It was a matter of talking with the school I attended.

My mom went with me

to ask for the 15-day leave to go to the tournament.

But the principal said no and said he wouldn't grant it.

"Rafael should forget about soccer

because it will take him nowhere."

So my husband and I turned to look at each other,

and my husband said, "Well, yeah, we'll give him permission to go."

They obviously kicked me out of school.

But anyway, going there, I was one of the best.

We reached semifinals.

It was a great experience, right?

I'd like to run into the principal

and tell him, "Well, thanks for the advice,

which was worth zilch, for soccer's given me everything I've got."

JOHAN CRUYFF STADIUM

Giuliano!

Reaching a team like Barcelona

takes a talented and quality player,

but I also believe luck plays a part

because you have to be in the right place at the right time.

And I believe it's fate.

For instance, my fate chose me to be on or be part of Atlas.

At one point, Atlas was based in Zamora.

In fact, they recently sent another Zamora school back to Atlas.

There were recruitment tryouts for the team's feeder clubs

in their different divisions.

All the talent they found in the different schools

in the Zamora Municipality and Michoacán.

They chose eight or ten players from that team.

Out of those tryouts, only two of us remained,

an 18-year-old boy and me, who was 14.

He came back on Saturday. "So, what happened?"

"They want me there on Monday."

"What do you want?"

Without hesitation, I told them, "I want to go. I want to play there."

"It's my dream. It's what I want."

And I made that decision without hesitation.

Atlas was…

It has always had a cursed history in Mexican soccer.

It had always been the ugly duckling, small, embarrassing.

It was always being relegated.

Until this generation arrived

with Rafa Márquez and other good players,

which, out of the blue,

brought hope.

Very few of us were from Guadalajara.

So players from Tepic arrived…

-From Sinaloa, from Mérida. -…from Sinaloa, Mérida, so…

Guys came from all over the country, even Borgetti.

Outsiders were lodged in a clubhouse.

And we were around

fifteen, sixteen players.

And Rafa Márquez was the youngest.

I looked at him and practically said,

"What's this child doing here?"

It wasn't what I expected, which was maybe being part of the team.

I was somewhat on trial.

I started getting impatient about not playing,

about being passed over.

Two or three weeks passed.

I began feeling homesick, hopeless.

So one night of the many I had cried about missing my family,

I called home

to tell them I didn't want to be there anymore.

So he starts crying,

"Mom, come get me. I don't want to be here."

I say, "What?" He kept going, "Yes, I wanna go."

"So you want to come home?" "Yes."

"Who decided to go?"

And I was like, "What? Excuse me?"

"I wanna… Come get me."

"It was your choice."

"It's your responsibility."

"Earn your position."

"Earn your place."

"So do your best, son."

"Where's my dad?"

I hung up.

She didn't even put my dad on the phone, and…

That's when I said, "Well, there's no turning back."

RAFAEL MÁRQUEZ HAS A SOCCER LEGACY FROM WHICH TO GET INSPIRATION

Rafa starts playing in first division in around '96.

You could see the traits of a center-back with a lot of presence

and sharp vision, calm.

Shy.

FORMER ATLAS AND MEXICAN TEAM PLAYER (1996-2009)

He obviously had a good height.

Very skinny, right? Pretty skinny,

but with a personality that brought out the best of him on the field.

It was an extraordinary mix.

He had it all.

A single player had the physical and athletic traits, which are important,

but he also had something that is rare in a Mexican player.

The mind.

There were great players on that team.

You had Rafa, Juan Pablo Rodríguez, Osorno, all the good ones back then.

It was like Atlas's golden generation.

With a coach like La Volpe, we turned soccer into a spectacle.

And many admired him and always remember him fondly.

They understood we had to build a team from the ground up,

a team that has to develop players from the junior teams.

It was an Atlas that played soccer differently.

We couldn't believe it when we saw Atlas

playing in that turn-of-the-century tournament

and moving up in the league

to reach the finals in Toluca.

RAFAEL MÁRQUEZ 2' ATLAS 3-0 PUEBLA, SUMMER '99

ATLAS QUALIFIES STRAIGHT INTO THE PLAYOFFS

That Atlas really began

to be a different story.

JUNE 3, 1999 SUMMER TOURNAMENT FINAL

FIRST-LEG MATCH ATLAS VS TOLUCA

I remember perfectly how Jalisco Stadium was full.

You looked up, and the stands

were moving because it was packed.

The people were happy, hopeful.

To confront a good team like Toluca,

which had Cardozo at his best,

was like facing a bull.

We were little.

We were each just starting our own careers.

But we went all in.

I get goosebumps

just remembering what that moment was.

Who shoots? He goes for it…

Cabuto… Cardozo!

Toluca scores!

Second goal at minute eight.

They were at 2-0 within the first minutes,

and people thought we'd lose bad.

We looked at each other dumbfounded,

and we were like, "What is this? We're home."

He crosses the ball. Andrade goes for it… Goal!

Osorno has it, now Andrade.

Jared… goal!

The ball is in! Misionero Castillo!

We gave everything we had.

Maybe no one was rooting for us.

We fought back.

At least I am proud to tell it this way.

La Volpe found an ally on the field in Rafa Márquez,

despite the fact that he was very young.

The ball is in the air.

A header, and it's in!

Rafa Márquez evens the score!

WHAT A FINAL!

We didn't think we stood a chance

since Atlas hadn't been in a final

in a long time.

And it obviously hadn't won a championship in a long time.

So we were hopeful

and wanted to win that championship.

JUNE 6, 1999 TOLUCA VS ATLAS SECOND-LEG MATCH

Toluca has this famous fan base, the Wild Bitch,

which is really intimidating when you're there.

It was a fierce match.

Toluca didn't beat us in regulation time.

They could've said, "Anyone could be the champion."

Sadly, one team will lose.

The match went on until the official time ran out.

We went to overtime

and finished with a penalty shootout.

Here comes Taboada.

Chato comes too. He shoots!

Goal!

The penalty shootout

in the final of the summer of '99 between Toluca and Atlas

was one of the most dramatic moments in the history of Mexican soccer.

Before I shot the penalty, a Toluca player came

and jeered at me to break my concentration.

He told me, "You have no balls. You'll miss."

A scuffle broke out. Who's close, Daniel?

The stadium was heated, explosive,

pressuring Márquez.

Born in Zamora, Michoacán,

a newcomer from the Atlas junior team.

Rafa's coming. Cristante is ready.

He's not too far back. Ten feet behind the ball.

Zamora-born Rafa comes, shoots…

After scoring the goal,

I turn to look at them

and make the gesture

that I did have what he said I didn't.

It was a tiebreaker.

They pass the ball on fire, and if you miss…

-No. -…you lose.

We were all sad.

Then, a rare sight. La Volpe was crying.

Unbelievable.

I was aware of the kind of team Toluca was. No doubt.

But maybe

it would've been nice to be the champs.

In the end, Toluca held the trophy.

But Atlas had won something much more important than the trophy.

That team had won

the fans' appreciation and respect.

Sometimes losing a championship hurts.

But at that time,

what we did was commendable,

the way we did it, how we did it,

and the fact that people still remember it with so much joy.

RUNNER-UP - SUMMER 1999, 1ST DIVISION MEXICAN FOOTBALL FEDERATION

At that point, there were players in Mexico

who seemed to have everything to become stars

but who got lost along the way.

Rafa Márquez had to break that taboo

of going from a good soccer player on junior teams

to becoming a great soccer player

on the Mexican national team

at the highest game level possible.

We were going to play

a friendly match against Ecuador in Azteca Stadium.

Bora Milutinovic was still the coach back then,

and there was a list where he picked a Márquez from Atlas.

They called us both, César Márquez and Rafael Márquez.

So it's a story everyone tells.

But I'm the one who ended up playing.

And it was really sweet, you know?

Because I always dreamed of wearing the national team's jersey,

singing the national anthem.

It was something I'll never forget,

because, being 17, I never imagined I'd debut with the senior team.

That's right. Mr. Bora has given me the chance

to be on the senior team.

It was a good opportunity, and I hope he keeps calling me.

After that call, they took us to Copa América

with Manolo Lapuente.

Claudio and I had to shadow Marcelo Salas and Zamorano,

two great forwards of the time.

Two Monaco scouts were watching the game

because they were there to scout another defender, a Chilean guy.

"We've seen you play, and we'd like to know

if you'd be interested in playing for Monaco."

And I was like, "Monaco?"

It wasn't until I got to Monaco that it dawned on me,

"This is like a fairy tale."

It's all the same for Rafa Márquez,

whether he plays as a midfielder or a striker.

This is the first interview of a player

who explains to us why he wanted to come to Monaco.

French soccer is the world champion.

And in this championship, Monaco is one of the most important teams.

Nothing compares to Mexico.

Leaving behind your friends, your family, your traditions is hard.

Moving from one country to another,

having to learn a different language,

getting used to the French culture…

In soccer, we call it the "Jamaicón Syndrome."

"Oh, yes! He has the traits to play in Europe."

But as soon as he goes to Europe, he'll come back because he'll call to say,

"I'm cold. I'm hungry. I miss the food. I miss my friends."

"I get paid well in Mexico. Why stay here and suffer the cold in Europe?"

There will always be hardships.

But if you have a strong winning mentality,

you'll succeed in Europe.

Having said this, Rafael Márquez goes for the ball.

And, at minute ten, Monaco opens the scoring,

which seems logical, being his first opportunity.

I believe Rafa was ready.

He broke the molds and paradigms of the Mexican player.

He'd never throw in the towel.

Despite being new and not knowing the league,

I felt comfortable enough

to do both offensive and defensive moves.

I confronted much faster and heftier guys,

and still, I was able to stand out.

We ended up champions,

and I was also able to end up

as one of the best defenders of that championship, that tournament.

I started to enjoy it.

I also began earning a lot of money for my young age. I was 20.

I had impulses.

I had flashy cars.

I bought an A3,

a SLK,

then a Porsche, then a Ferrari, then a Maserati,

a Mercedes.

And those were my impulses.

Out of the blue, he calls my mom

and tells her, "I'm getting married."

And we were all like, "What's going on? Why? With who? How?"

He was about to turn 22 when he got married.

"You know? I'm getting married in…"

I don't remember if it was three or four weeks.

"Everything's set. All you have to do is come, and I'll get married."

I think he was happy when he had his children.

I think those were his happy times.

Ready.

It still happens. I watch videos on social media,

and I go, "Well, that's my dad, huh?"

I still can't believe it.

One, two, three, four, five, six…

-It was out. -One, two.

Go all the way!

-Take it. -One.

I think that one of the biggest dreams for many soccer players

is representing your country on the national team.

And then playing and representing your country in a World Cup.

FIFA WORLD CUP KOREA AND JAPAN 2002

Everything you see at a World Cup is totally different,

and you live it differently.

I was very excited, very hopeful.

Also knowing my family was with me during that World Cup…

My sister, my mom, my dad,

they also had the chance to accompany me.

And Javier Aguirre

gives me the responsibility of being the captain at that World Cup.

Are you already recording?

You're recording this, the sound, everything?

-Exactly. -Perfect. You're fucking great.

-Don't edit it. -No.

Okay, thanks.

Rafa was my captain.

He had that emotional balance

which allowed him to speak to the group,

be concise, and be heard.

Some soccer players are born to be captains.

Rafa Márquez was born to be a captain.

Walking in front of this group,

being the leader, having this responsibility,

first makes you proud

for representing your country and, on top of that, for leading the team.

MEXICO - CROATIA

Ecuador!

MEXICO - ECUADOR

Italy!

Mexico!

We were motivated when we arrived.

But we were also aware

that our next opponent could be

the United States.

I love USA, but I'm sorry for today!

Mexico, let's go win!

We come with some of Mexico's best soccer in a World Cup.

That's what I'm expecting, to win by two goals, 2-0.

For the US to be hopeless.

We'll win 2-0.

Against the Americans.

I think nobody knows this,

but I have a personal rivalry with the US

because it has to do with a family matter

that is very sensitive to me.

That chapter in my father's life,

where he suffered being separated from his dad.

And he abandons them to go to the US.

Every time he had a few drinks,

the memory of Grandpa would come back.

And, of course, he'd start crying. He'd remember.

And that, frankly…

I think to me, to my sister, too, to my mom, it was something we'd suffer.

But there was this grudge

about him leaving for the US.

So I associate the US with confronting them,

with the US being the world power in all the other sports.

So if we're

better at soccer, we should have no reason to lose against them.

And those are

the little things that, in the end, add up to something.

ROUND OF 16 MEXICO VS USA

We had a better game, we had a better team,

but something was against us.

Mexico had a lot to lose.

So much to lose.

When you have an opponent who might be your equal or less capable,

you always seem to relax.

I think that's what happened to us.

MEXICO - USA

That was the worst scenario,

starting the match losing,

because that would make them stronger.

"They can't beat us. We can't lose against them."

"That can't happen, not with these guys."

I made the emotional choice of changing to a line of four

when we played with a line of five. We hadn't practiced it.

That's when we lost control,

and the team began to get jumbled.

So, in the second half, we began to get desperate

trying to even the score with the opponent.

Sometimes things don't turn out the way you want them to.

Sometimes you search for it,

you try,

and you don't understand why it doesn't happen.

MEXICO - USA

At 2-0, we were desperate to see what we could achieve.

We lost the synchronicity.

We didn't have what he had worked for throughout the weeks.

I became desperate.

Whether it was Cobi Jones or whoever crossed my path.

We were in the stands when that happened.

I said, "My God, he didn't even touch him."

"He should've at least smashed his face."

Sometimes what people are asking for

is at least some aggression, to at least make them trip,

to at least make our opponent feel

that we're there and it hurts.

They smashed us

On Father's Day, they made us pay

We'd accept this from any other team, man, except the United States.

It's a national shame.

We lost!

And to who? That's the worst part!

FRUSTRATION MEXICAN NATIONAL TEAM'S DEFEAT HURT

After returning from the World Cup, my husband was a bit ill.

He had surgery. He had a stomach tumor, but it wasn't outside.

It was encapsulated.

His surgery went well,

but then there were internal complications.

And that began making him more debilitated.

I injured my knee at that time.

So I decided to have surgery in Mexico to be close to my dad.

There came the time when Monaco told me I had to go back.

They hadn't given me permission to stay so long.

If I didn't go back,

they said they'd take drastic measures to make me come back.

But precisely the next day,

when I was about to go to the airport,

I decided I didn't want to go.

And, obviously, sometimes I get teary-eyed, like now.

MÁRQUEZ LIVES A DAY OF SORROW

Even if time goes by,

even if years go by,

it still hurts.

And I still miss him, above all.

During those last weeks,

do you remember any conversation you had with your dad?

Yes. I even told him

that at some point, it's not that I promised him,

but I did tell him I'd be on a great team.

So, obviously, Mexico rooted for Madrid back then because of Hugo Sánchez.

And yes, I'd tell him,

even as a joke, "Hey…"

"Don't think about leaving now."

"You still have to see me playing for Real Madrid."

And although he took it as a joke,

he'd say, "I'm sure you will."

"Whether I'm here or not,

I know you will."

Now he must be mocking me, laughing,

because I went with the rival.

And I'm sure he's proud of everything I've achieved.

Barcelona's present is outlined by three names:

Brazilian player Ronaldinho,

for whom Barcelona made a new offer,

the Portuguese Quaresma, who is already at Barcelona,

and Márquez, whom the club officially introduced at noon.

This handshake has involved many meetings

and different combinations in drafting Márquez's contract with Barça.

Márquez, who's played for Monaco since 1999,

can enjoy the holidays and take with him a country that's begun to root for Barça.

The Mexican defender,

who signed for four seasons, wants to succeed in Europe,

following the example of his idol, Hugo Sánchez.

Hugo Sánchez, one, take one, common mark.

Going to Spain and living where I wanted to be and succeeding,

I loved the idea of more Mexican players going there.

And when I heard Rafa was going to Barcelona,

I was very happy for him.

For another Mexican to be at one of the biggest clubs,

not only in Spain, but in all of Europe,

you could foresee a very successful career.

Barça is on another level. There is no comparison.

Yes, Monaco is a solid club,

but Barça is a different story, yeah.

It's hard to adapt, not only on the field, but off it.

Here you see 200 journalists waiting for you.

You're all over the press. Even in Mexico, your life changes.

In the case of Márquez, you know he is known as "the Kaiser of Michoacán."

He is a man who likes to be compared

with a world-renowned player like Beckenbauer.

But I was thinking more of creating my own story,

of trying to be the best in my position,

of wanting to be someone important,

backed up by the fact that I'm Mexican.

And Mexico will always be behind me.

Ronaldinho also arrived that year.

And I knew Ronaldinho's impact,

both on and off the field.

And being able to say Ronaldinho would be my teammate

spoke volumes of the great team I'd be on.

Rafa and I arrived at the same time to Barcelona.

And it was wonderful.

We arrived at a time when the club wasn't doing well.

The club wasn't at its best when he arrived,

but thanks to all the teamwork,

and he was an important piece.

He helped us turn things around.

The level of demand at Barça and on that specific team was really high.

To play for Barcelona, you have to go through an important selection process.

You have to be the best in your position

or one the best in the world.

It was a dream team.

I don't know how they managed

to bring everyone and put us together.

The welcome, or this door the players open for you,

is always given thanks to your professionalism at each practice.

So when they see someone who is dedicated,

when they see someone who makes a serious effort,

that trust is completely opened up.

He was a defender who won battles.

His aerial game was spectacular.

He hardly lost when it was one-on-one. He was very aggressive.

He was really good with the ball and his feet.

He had this technique…

Rafa would make a change from side to side that took you by surprise.

In addition to defending, he'd attack.

Rafa would make goal passes from his position.

He helped me a lot. We understood each other well.

Just from a glance, we knew what the other would do.

He was a scoring player when shooting a set piece.

Into the corner of the net! Goal!

Goal!

RAFA GIVES BARÇA THE WIN

All of Mexico was with Real Madrid when I played for Real Madrid.

But years went by, and Rafa became well-known

playing for Barcelona.

So, in Mexico, many people became Barcelona fans.

All thanks to Rafa.

I saw Mexican fans looking for a Barcelona match

just to see how that extraordinary Atlas player

could keep thriving at the highest level possible.

And Barcelona became like my home away from home.

They were

moments…

very important moments in my personal life.

In my professional life, it goes without saying, they were the best.

I won everything with Barcelona.

It's the hardest match given the field conditions…

Goal!

Márquez scores!

Let's go get that triumph!

Let's go get that victory!

Let's get those three points!

Let's stop the shots!

Let's close La Liga,

and let's devote ourselves

to start enjoying this magnificent season.

SPANISH LEAGUE CHAMPIONS 2004 - 2005

You could see on the field that,

beyond the quality we could bring to the matches,

we were a group of friends.

They did it.

Barça has won its 18th league title.

Final score, 0-1.

Fine, the team performed well until the end. So we're happy.

Ready for the title on the 17th?

We're still here, at the Rambla de Canaletas,

where thousands of fans have gathered

to celebrate Barça's second consecutive league title.

It's the best present I have ever gotten.

Now the Champions League final awaits them.

In merely a week, they will face Arsenal for the glory.

May 17th, 2006.

Saint-Denis, France, the heart of Europe.

Playing in Barcelona's starting lineup

in a match in France,

to be Europe's champion,

would differentiate him from the rest of his Mexican peers.

You'd see the defensive lineup and watch Rafa play.

I felt a sense of security.

You'd think, "Great, we have Puyol. We have Rafa."

The stadium is packed tonight, May 17th. There's the kickoff…

The Frenchman playing…

Rafa played a very important role

along with Puyol,

which was to mark Thierry Henry,

which, back then, was really hard.

Both he and I had a terrible time with Henry.

But anyway, whenever Henry beat me, there was Rafa.

And whenever he beat Rafa, I was there.

So I think we did a good job there.

He passes it forward.

Goal!

What a goal!

What a goal by Barça!

He should be treasured as one of the best in the history of soccer

and Mexican soccer.

The Cup is here!

Rafa Márquez had reached the highest level,

and he was on the field with Europe's champion.

BARCELONA EUROPEAN CHAMPION 05-06

EUROPE'S MASTERS

THE PRINCE THAT BECAME KING

NICE GAME!

Maybe personally, I wasn't going through a good time,

because my ex-wife and I had separated.

And we had two children.

That split wasn't easy at all.

RAFA MÁRQUEZ'S DAUGHTER

When I was around two years old, my parents got divorced.

And it was hard as a small child watching him on TV

or trying to be with him when he was always working.

But he really is a great dad.

Yes, it was hard

because it overlapped with the Champions final

and the upcoming World Cup.

FIFA WORLD CUP GERMANY 2006

Let's say hi. Hello!

This is a party! Go Germany!

Long live Mexico!

To arrive at the World Cup with the coaching staff,

who at the time was Ricardo La Volpe,

with players I got along with perfectly…

I felt I was arriving at my best soccer-wise,

physically, mentally.

My confidence was soaring because I had won the Champions League.

That group really was

one of the best groups we could put on a national team.

No doubt we had everything. It was a great team.

Well, there was a secret to this.

La Volpe got back together with the players that he'd known,

that he'd developed and established,

who understood his philosophy.

And, of course, Rafael Márquez was among them.

It's the World Cup's surprise team.

But I was not the Rafa Márquez that La Volpe knew at Atlas.

I was the one he trusted,

the one he didn't reprimand for anything,

because I came up with solutions.

And to me, he was the group's stronghold,

a leader.

There are different leaderships on a team.

And Rafa's wasn't based on shouting.

It was about standing out

with his quality and stance, with his great technique.

Above all, he was a European champ with Barcelona, as simple as that.

His game during that World Cup

is the best version I've seen of Rafa Márquez.

Yeah.

It was the World Cup I enjoyed the most.

The results were there with us, and we qualified for the next round.

We're gonna win, this gang will win

It's okay, it's okay Argentina is going down the…

I went to Argentina to get ready for this.

I prepared by watching coaches.

So of course I knew Argentina's system.

The only leverage we could have was that we always watch them.

They never watch Mexican soccer.

Argentina!

It was one of those nights

where Mexican soccer could change,

take a different path.

It could take that step it has been denied for so long.

ROUND OF 16 MEXICO VS ARGENTINA

When we went out on the field,

during the first minutes, Argentina didn't know where we were.

We had analyzed them carefully.

We had something very good, which was the set piece game.

Then the free kick came, which I execute.

And Pavel kicked it at me. I got it with my head, and Rafa…

I was practically alone in front of the post and…

MEXICO - ARGENTINA

And Argentina was actually baffled.

They didn't know what was happening on the field.

And after Rafa Márquez's goal, there was something that made us think

that this team could finally advance in the World Cup

and move forward where no one had dared to go

in a World Cup away from home.

Sadly, that's not what happened.

A couple of minutes later, Argentina tied with an own-goal.

MEXICO - ARGENTINA

You idiot!

We went to great lengths.

We thought we were better than our opponent.

But later, there was a brilliant play,

a stroke of genius.

MEXICO - ARGENTINA

Almost, but we'll get the big one in the next World Cup.

Well, okay, we didn't win the match. If you don't score…

Mexico was superior… by far.

Sad, disappointed.

I thought that would be the World Cup were we would reach the coveted 5th match.

I felt like disconnecting for a while

because I had gone through major emotions.

Being immersed for so many days since the Champions…

All that pressure…

I also wanted some distance

and to enjoy some time away.

Jaydy interview, take one.

MODEL AND RAFA MÁRQUEZ'S WIFE

Silence.

I'm Jaydy Michel.

I was born in Mexico, with an American mother,

and I've been living in Spain for some years.

I was living in Madrid. He lived here, in Barcelona.

And that was the time when Barça was winning everything.

I remember it was a novelty to me.

He'd say, "Oh, we won the Champions." And I'd be…

I mean, it didn't make any sense to me

how big of a deal it was to win a Champions tournament.

Barcelona's requirement

is that you must be at a great level to play

because every single year they bring the best of the best

in order to get even better.

Again, the team was restructured,

and Rijkaard is no longer head coach.

And Guardiola is given the opportunity.

I understand if they're doubtful.

I feel that in a month,

in a couple of months, these doubts will fade.

They'll be less doubtful simply because I'm prepared.

From that moment on, he spoke with each one of us

to learn what we wanted.

He asked, "What do you want to do?"

"You wanna stay? You wanna go?"

Well, I'd say, "I want to stay."

"I want to be here. I think it's a good opportunity."

And he goes, "Okay."

"But on the condition that you stop going to Madrid."

And I said, "What?"

MORE THAN A CLUB

So I said, "Okay, no problem."

"I just won't go."

He said, "I'm counting on you because I'm a big fan of the La Volpe kick-off."

"You were with him. I want you to explain it to me and tell me about it."

And that was the start of a very good relationship.

It was hard because we hardly ever saw each other.

I did consider it.

A relationship with him could be something I'd like to experience.

I told her, "Hey, they forbade me from going to Madrid."

"So now you'll have to come."

In the end, she took it as it is

because, professionally, sometimes,

those trips took a toll on me, physically.

Good evening, everyone.

Welcome to one of the loveliest stadiums in the world, Barcelona's Camp Nou.

There are 96,000 people tonight

in what promises to be an exciting Champions League semifinal.

…Márquez, who'll have to be out for two months

after the rupture of his left knee's meniscus was confirmed.

No doubt, losing Rafa is the worst news of the day.

He's out the rest of the season.

Rafa is a very important man to us, but this will make us stronger.

The most important matches were coming, and he was

absolutely key for us.

When he got injured…

the poor guy was so sad. We soon found out he wouldn't play in the final.

Plus, he was a friend.

Unfortunately, he missed the best part.

He had worked a whole year.

We reached the Cup final, the Champions final.

The result was practically foretold.

The 2-6…

Yes, almost the best two months to wrap it all up.

-I enjoyed playing so much. -Yes.

I enjoyed what we did so much…

Missing that and more, the important moments,

yes, it was very sad.

On teams of Barça's level, if you get distracted for a second,

you miss a few games,

get injured for a month, when you're back, you've been replaced.

After the injury,

there was a complete change in the coaching staff,

in this case, Guardiola.

So he passed on me.

I didn't feel as important as before.

I wasn't even on the bench. They sent me to the stands.

Do you think there are players, yourself included,

who need to step aside in these remaining months of the competition

because of poor performance?

I want to ask if the team is amazed by Piqué's evolution.

They place so much trust in him

that he has even joined attack plays, as we've seen lately.

He was very frank with me. He said, "Know what?"

"I have nothing against you."

"It's not about your discipline. You practice well. I think you're good."

"But well, I simply trust someone else more."

I think his priorities are his players.

And I'm ambitious.

I want to keep playing, and I don't want to be on the bench

or in the stands.

I want to thank everyone

and say a simple "See you later."

I'm sure I'll come back to Barcelona and to this institution.

Thank you very much.

I don't know if you can tell, but do you know where you're going,

or can you tell us where you're going?

NEW YORK 2010

And I preferred to maybe lower my level a little

and be a little more relaxed

after being at Barcelona for seven years.

He was at a stage in his career

where he could make decisions more for financial than for sports reasons.

I never thought that relaxation, with my competitive mentality,

would bring me frustration.

I wouldn't go to practice happy.

I got frustrated. I got angry. I left mad.

I wasn't loved much in the US either.

Every place I went, I was obviously the most hated

for being the Mexican national team captain.

And he spent a long time thinking about what to do.

At the end of the day, I guess

Rafa's adventure in New York with the Red Bulls

brought more sorrow than glory.

I made the bad choice of going to MLS instead of going to Juventus,

which might have been a different story.

But I realized I had the possibility

to keep competing at a significant level.

When we arrived in León,

the change was big for him

when it came to infrastructure.

But I think that made him

bring out his character again

and go back to being a leader

and being strong and proving that he wanted to win.

The Mexican fan base was happy

just to see Rafa Márquez on the field.

It was a luxury

and a homage to what his great career path had been.

Rafa Márquez, for the first time in his career, in his life,

is a Mexican soccer champion.

León is champion of Mexican soccer!

LEÓN IS MX LEAGUE CHAMPIONS OPENING TOURNAMENT 2013

He was champion in France with Monaco.

Of course, he was champion multiple times with Barcelona.

And he came back to Mexican soccer

to become champion with León.

One, two, three.

Well, winning that two-time championship with León

made me enjoy soccer again,

and it obviously reaffirmed I was there to still do important things.

One of the huge things I owed to myself

was making history with the national team at a World Cup

and advancing beyond the round of 16.

FIFA WORLD CUP BRAZIL 2014

Mexico!

Mexico!

It was a very good team.

There were quality men able to have this idea or model of a game.

There's nothing more to say. This has begun.

Now we have to prove it out there.

The camaraderie, the sacrifice, the effort, the cunning…

We have to give our all starting now. Let's go!

Let's go!

All together!

God protect us. Give it your all.

Go, one, two, three, Mexico, go!

We came with confidence

because confronting Brazil with the men they had

and tying that game gave us a lot of confidence,

especially after beating Croatia.

MEXICO - CROATIA

When he scored, he turned around and went to celebrate with us.

He cheered this way, looking up.

And I said, "That's for me."

The Netherlands is next! The way Mexico played, we'll win.

I'm happy. We're going to Fortaleza. Kisses!

We will win in Fortaleza.

Mexico!

When facing the Netherlands, we said,

"They're a difficult, complicated opponent."

"But it's with these kinds of opponents where Mexico can grow,

where we can have a good match and be surprising."

He seemed positive. I know he was looking forward to going.

And being the captain, he had to encourage the rest.

So if he didn't bring that idea, that feeling,

it would be hard to project it and convey it to his teammates.

What do we need to do to keep advancing

or will we stay behind as always?

In my case, I want more.

Today, we must go for more.

We have to be different.

We have to be winners, be triumphant, guys.

-Let's give it our all! -Let's go!

ROUND OF 16 MEXICO VS NETHERLANDS

"Now it's our turn."

"This time, we're closer to what we all want,

which is to move on to that fifth match."

And we seemed very confident.

MEXICO - NETHERLANDS

And then, we lowered our concentration level,

our effort level.

We stopped believing.

That's when our opponent woke up.

Until the tie arrived,

and that's when the doubts started to resurface.

The thought returned that we could stay in those instances,

that it would happen again.

After that, we all know the story.

They decide I did touch Robben.

But we all know all the gestures he made

from that slight touch that ended up being a penalty.

In my eyes, it wasn't a penalty.

"Oh, no," I said. "No, that's not a penalty, wretched man."

It was 2014

June the 29th

The great Brazilian sun

Their faces were like snow

Blessed national team

It couldn't be true

Piojo was leading them

Straight to the final

-It wasn't a penalty, no. -It wasn't a penalty.

-That isn't a penalty. -It simply wasn't a penalty.

It wasn't a penalty!

That wasn't a penalty!

That crap wasn't a penalty!

The audience joined

In this ovation

Damn Dutch They took us out of the World Cup

With their feigned penalties And natural malice

Robben is a great actor

The referee is blind

Our great feats were annulled by a creep

Just a reminder, it wasn't a penalty.

MEXICO LETS THEMSELVES BE "ROBBEN"

It happened to be in those… crucial moments.

Top players are there…

where they have to be.

At some point, he thought that was his last World Cup

and that maybe…

It was sad to end that way.

But life is full of surprises.

When you do things right, do your best and give it your all,

you might amaze yourself.

Maybe many people know me as Rafa Márquez, the player,

the guy with that profile, with that serious face,

who's always the captain,

the one who sets the example,

the leader, the one who tells them off,

but I'm actually someone else.

I'm fun. I'm cheerful. I'm funny.

I can tell jokes. I'm someone completely different.

Tell me a joke.

No, I've got to bring my cheat sheet to see it.

We're about to surprise the Rafa Márquez Foundation children.

And I'm dressed as Batman!

My job is to defend the world.

It's Rafa Márquez.

To save those in need.

To save Atlas.

That would be very hard.

Taking a walk with the family here.

The three of you back there, you three.

Give it to me.

We came to visit Tlaquepaque.

Tlaquepaque means a lot to me. This is where my father is from

and where I spent happy times during my childhood.

I wanted my family to know it, my kids.

And it happened to be one day before

we got that terrible news.

AUGUST 9 2017

I was subpoenaed by the prosecutor's office.

They said, "Hey, they called from Mexico City

because the Attorney General wants to speak with you."

"But you've got to go."

I asked, "What's it about?"

And they said, "I can't tell you,

but I advise you to go."

Wednesday, August 9, 2017.

I don't know if we'll remember the date, but we will remember the day.

It's easily said,

but today is the day the US government

accused two Mexican idols,

two popular Mexican idols,

one in sports, another in music,

accused by the US Department of the Treasury

of acting as money launderers for the drug cartels.

We started seeing tweets

and the US media saying someone very important

was included in the OFAC list,

which is this blacklist the US government has

to name terrorist agents

and people with ties to drug trafficking.

Raúl Flores is known as "the Uncle."

And he went unnoticed for a long time,

but three weeks ago, he was arrested in Jalisco.

The DEA and the US Department of the Treasury

identify 64-year-old Raúl Flores

as the leader of the Flores criminal group.

He is being charged with drug trafficking and money laundering.

My father and I get the call from Rafa

asking us to see him

or meet him somewhere

to talk about this issue that was brand new

and had just come to light.

In that investigation file,

they traced a map of all the people involved.

And any sign that got you close to this character's traceability

got you in the investigation.

It was a hard blow, obviously, for his image as an individual

because it's very sensationalist news.

"Rafa Márquez linked to drug-trafficking money."

It seems Rafa Márquez and Julión are in serious trouble.

It could become a prison matter in both jurisdictions,

both in the US and in Mexico.

The inclusion in that list means, at least momentarily,

his financial death.

We said we'd defend him,

that he should put his jersey on since this was the match of his life.

The Prosport & Health Clinic

is one of the companies reported by the US Department of the Treasury

for its alleged ties to members of the Raúl Flores criminal gang.

This clinic, located in the Minerva neighborhood of Guadalajara,

has been in business for three years.

Its owners are soccer player Rafael Márquez and Luis Fossati,

who worked as physiotherapist for the Guadalajara Chivas.

The news came out on August 8, 2017.

And on August 9, half of the patients stopped coming.

I went to train that day, and Rafa didn't.

I kept calling, "What's up? Are you okay? Where are you?"

Of course, he was incommunicado.

Today, several news outlets

pointed out that I'm the subject of an investigation

by the US Department of the Treasury.

About that, I categorically deny any type of involvement

with such an organization

and with the facts referred to in the numerous news articles.

It was something we had to clean up.

And we had to explain to the public

that not everyone who is charged is guilty.

Mexican society has been corroded by drug trafficking.

Society lives with drug trafficking,

with its own culture.

So drug traffickers have so many tentacles

that they reach many places, many instances,

and, of course, businesses.

In Guadalajara, with society,

you never know who you're dealing with.

You never know who you've befriended.

Some pass for businessmen,

others as their friends,

and they rub elbows with high society,

with the government.

But in what context did you know Raúl Flores?

Well, as a friend.

He was part of the group I got along with in Guadalajara.

But we're talking about Raúl Flores's son, right?

Yes.

-For you were associated-- -With the father, exactly.

Why?

Because he was the kingpin in that…

in that investigation.

It all came about because of the purchase

of a property I acquired.

What was it?

A plot of land.

-In Guadalajara? -Yes, in Guadalajara.

Many properties, especially in the new area of Guadalajara,

belonged to a certain public figure.

-Which public figure? -Caro Quintero.

I thought it was a great opportunity to buy a plot of land,

and unfortunately, it belonged to this person.

That media storm

had generated doubts about whether his legacy would remain intact.

Today, the Mexican Football Federation and the MX League

acknowledged Rafa Márquez's career path

and claimed they trust he will clear up the situation with the authorities

to which they said they will provide their full support.

After what transpired today, Rafa Márquez will never be

the Mexican national team captain.

It's very complicated.

He already was more of an inspiration in the locker room than on the field.

The Federation…

At the end of the day, the Federation is a private institution.

A private corporation

with economic interests, without which it wouldn't survive.

So you are at a crossroads between supporting a player

because you want to, but you can't because of these brands.

SPONSORS BACK AWAY FROM MÁRQUEZ BRANDS WITHDRAW

His sponsors at that time, and he was still an active player,

canceled his contracts, namely Nike, Gillette,

which were important resources for a soccer player of his category.

It was a brutal blow to his image.

One minute, you're a hero, and the next,

you're the worst of criminals.

And it hits you moodwise.

I was living in this unfair darkness.

I lasted around a month cooped up inside my house.

And that's when the mind starts eating you up inside.

It eats up your thoughts.

"What if this or that happens? What will they think?"

I would lock myself up in the bathroom to cry.

And I think it's quite valid, right?

To feel that way, because you feel…

I mean, you don't know what's going to happen.

He lost so much.

He lost friendships. He lost everything.

Thank God Leonardo was there,

who'd just been born, and he was the one…

He brought joy to our home.

He motivated us. He gave me a reason to get up in the morning.

What is Daddy doing, love?

Bravo!

Well done!

Until one day, I told my wife, "You know what?"

"There's no reason we should stay home."

"We have to go out."

"Let's go have dinner now."

And we went to my favorite restaurant in Guadalajara.

As expected, everyone starts turning to look at us.

They stare while we're trying

to have a good time,

trying to have a nice dinner like we always used to.

And when I asked for the check…

right away, they say, "No, there's nothing to pay."

"The man at that table already paid."

"And the man at that table…"

"And the man at that other table is buying you a round of drinks."

And the owner

of the restaurant goes,

"This is your house. You're always welcome."

"No matter what, this is your house, and you'll never have to pay a cent."

And all of this

moves me because, in the end, people believe you.

Everything you did, all your hard work, all your struggles,

it was worth it, and people trust you.

In spite of everything being said,

they knew you were innocent in that situation.

In the end…

you have to keep on going.

And you need to know it's temporary.

Deep down, I always knew this was temporary.

The World Cup was dramatically approaching.

Márquez was still the team's leader.

He was still the right-hand man of the coach, Juan Carlos Osorio.

We didn't know if he'd ever play soccer again

or if our captain's retirement would be this way,

through the back door.

We all knew that Márquez

deserved the chance to play a fifth World Cup.

I'd like to ask about Rafa Márquez's case.

Over the last half a year,

we've been wondering if Rafa would play his fifth World Cup.

Did you talk to him during the week?

It's clear he has expressed it,

and you can see he wants to contribute to the national team.

We believe and hope, as everyone does, that the decision will be made

based on what he can offer the team on the field.

Eight midfielders:

Jesús Molina,

Rafael Márquez,

Andrés Guardado…

We're on the list.

We're going.

FIFA WORLD CUP RUSSIA 2018

I knew at some point this would be solved.

And I was able to retire after playing one last World Cup.

I never laundered money. I was never associated with the cartels.

I had to prove,

document after document, cent by cent,

money that came, money that went, where it came from, where it would go.

And in the end, this office simply gave me a letter

saying the investigation was over and I'm free of any guilt.

And it was clear I never did anything wrong.

The US Treasury Financial Intelligence Unit

withdrew soccer player Rafael Márquez from the list of blocked individuals.

On September 2021, after the pandemic,

we found out from a simple update to the OFAC website

that his name had been withdrawn from the list.

And that was it.

And that didn't cause the same fuss.

It didn't garner the same media attention than when this started.

Good news doesn't make as much

of a bang as bad news, right?

Márquez!

I was able to say goodbye to my beloved club

at Jalisco Stadium.

Mexican soccer pays homage to one of its historical figures.

This man is a legend,

not only in the history of Atlas, but in the history of Mexican soccer.

A Mexican soccer idol.

More than seeing it as a dark situation,

I have to see it as a great lesson

and a great life experience.

The best advice my dad ever gave me

was not to do things half-heartedly.

If you do something, do it right.

And now, as a coach,

I try to convince the players day after day

to do their very best, to give the best version of themselves,

to grab the opportunity,

and, of course, to practice professionalism, discipline,

to work hard, to sacrifice…

And to me, that's simply called "attitude."

I can be nice to everyone.

I can be quiet in a corner.

I may not look violent or like a kicking giant,

but when I'm on the field, I win.

And when I don't win, I win.

And even when I lose, I win.

He's been one of the best players to come out of soccer.

He has been a leader his entire life.

More than a teammate, a brother, as we call each other.

Rafa is greatness.

Whatever he does, he'll do it right and do it big.

A message that both Rafa, I'm sure, and I always want to give is

Mexicans should work as a team

because we have proven there's quality, there's talent,

and that we can be as good or even better

than the best soccer players in the world.

And, of course, Rafa is one of them.

Change direction. That's it.

Let me see it!

Willpower,

determination,

conviction,

hierarchy, that's what it is.

Whenever he speaks,

everyone listens.

He's the captain.

-Rafa Márquez. -Bravo!

That was nice.

Rafa, any last words?

Listen, I'll tell you a joke to finish this up.

Do you know

what a cowboy calls his daughter?

What?

Yee-ha! Let's go!

How do you see Rafa nowadays? How far will he go?

I believe he is predestined to be Mexico's coach,

and hopefully then he can get to the fifth match and beyond.

I think he has it all.

Mexico will someday win the World Cup they're looking for.

Whatever he does, he'll do it right and do it big.

Whether it's eventually coaching Barça

or coaching the Mexican national team when the time comes.

Whatever Rafa wants to do, he'll be able to.

Kisses, sweetie!

Take care.

I love you.