Rafa Márquez, Mexico’s greatest soccer player, is the subject of a new Netflix documentary

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As an admirer of Rafael Márquez Álvarez, I am in awe of his remarkable soccer career that spanned over two decades and left an indelible mark on Mexican football. Known as “El Capitán,” “El Duque de Catalunya,” or simply “Rafa,” Márquez’s accomplishments are truly impressive.

Rafael Márquez Álvarez is arguably the most accomplished player in the history of Mexican soccer.

Known affectionately as “El Kaiser of Michoacán,” “El Duque of Catalonia,” or simply “Rafa,” Márquez boasts an impressive career spanning over twenty years. He claimed championship titles in four different countries and led Mexico’s national team through five successive World Cup tournaments as its captain.

Another way to phrase this is: “He is featured in the recently released Netflix documentary, ‘Rafa Márquez: El Capitán,’ which premiered this month.”

Carlos Armella directs this film, with a script penned by journalist León Krauze. It becomes part of the soccer documentary collection on the streaming platform, which already includes “Maradona in Mexico,” “Pelé,” and “Beckham,” all focusing on athletes’ careers.

In his personal experience, Marquez has preferred to keep a solitary lifestyle. He shared that he’ve never felt drawn to create a documentary. Surprisingly, production companies have approached him with proposals for such projects. Confused about how or if to proceed, he sought advice from his friend and El Estudio co-founder, Pablo Cruz.

According to Márquez, Cruz considered the notion, “Why don’t we produce it ourselves?” Due to our existing friendship and high level of trust. From my point of view, I believed that because of this trust, I could discuss topics with Cruz more openly than with others.

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As a passionate fan, I’d describe it this way: The movie takes me on a journey through Márquez’s football career. It starts with his early days at Mexican club Atlas FC, where he left an indelible mark despite a brief tenure. Then, we witness his rise to fame in Europe, as part of AS Monaco, making history as the first Mexican player to win the French Ligue 1 title. And just when you think it can’t get any better, Márquez joins FC Barcelona, creating football history once again by becoming the first player of Mexican descent to win the esteemed UEFA Champions League.

As a devoted cinema-goer, I can’t help but appreciate the complexities of life and sports, where triumphs are often accompanied by heartaches. The documentary takes us on a poignant journey back to 2002 FIFA World Cup, when Mexico suffered an agonizing loss against the United States. This infamous match gave birth to the taunt “dos a cero,” which still echoes in the U.S.-Mexico rivalry. For me, and for Marquez, this rivalry ran deep, making that defeat all the more painful.

He made an intriguing observation in the documentary, which many people might be unaware of. This sensation or annoyance I felt because of a family matter I’d prefer not to reveal here. It would be more impactful if viewers experienced it firsthand in the documentary. However, this hidden motivation fueled our longstanding competition against the U.S.

Outside of the soccer field, “El Capitán” explores difficult periods in Márquez’s private life. One such incident involved allegations of money laundering on his behalf by a cartel leader, leading to sanctions from the US Treasury Department in 2017. However, these accusations were later dropped as Mexico’s attorney general and the US Treasury determined there was insufficient evidence against him.

The film explores in great depth Marquez’s connection with his father, Rafael Márquez Esqueda, whose successful soccer career inspired Marquez to pursue sports. Sadly, the elder Márquez passed away just a few months following the 2002 World Cup.

Márquez shared, “My father was an influential figure in my life, shaping who I am today. The valuable lesson I gleaned from him is the importance of discipline. I strive to instill this virtue in my own children and cherish the memory of my father’s teachings. He always emphasized that if we commit to something, no matter what it is, we should put our heart and soul into it, giving it our all to achieve the best possible outcome.”

He explains that this perspective is what guides him in his role as the head coach of FC Barcelona Atlético, the development squad for Barcelona Football Club.

“As a coach, I now have the responsibility of motivating a group of young and famed players. This isn’t an simple task, but one that I take on willingly, having gone through a similar experience myself at a young age when I joined Monaco at 20.”

Despite having started his coaching career relatively recently – taking charge of Real Sociedad Deportiva Alcalá’s youth team in 2020 and moving on to his current role in 2022 – Carles Puyol and Samuel Eto’o, both Barcelona veterans prominently featured in the documentary, are convinced that Márquez possesses the qualities necessary to manage the Mexico national team. This coveted position, acknowledged Márquez, can only be achieved through dedication and hard work.

To secure that job, I need to put in the effort and be thoroughly prepared. I must try creating my own assurances to increase my chances. My plan is to continually improve and gain experience in order to eventually perform exceptionally well, God willing.

Just as my experiences as a professional athlete shaped my mindset and instilled in me a strong work ethic and unwavering commitment to excellence, I am determined to carry these values with me throughout every stage of my life. Regardless of where I find myself or what challenges I face, I remain dedicated to making history and giving my all to be the best version of myself. This philosophy is rooted in the lessons my father imparted upon me: that a commitment made is a commitment fulfilled, and one that deserves my full effort and dedication.

Iván Fernández is a freelance journalist based in Los Angeles.

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2024-07-18 18:53