The first time I saw Rafael Márquez as a Barcelona player was when I started supporting the Spanish football club. Even then he was quite famous, having already played in two World Cups, both as captain. I didn't know I would write about Rafael Márquez thanks to a Netflix documentary after all these years. Obviously I'm happy about it, because I really liked him as a player and, above all, because he was part of the football team of the club I support. Well, he is still part of the club, as it turns out that he is the current coach of Barcelona B. Let's now take a closer look at Rafa Márquez: The Captain.
Rafa Márquez: El Capitan opens in the present, with the man at the Barcelona B training camp. The scene soon changes to the biggest controversy of Rafa's life: the United States Treasury Department accuses him of being involved with a drug cartel, which obviously happened in the past. While it seems like the documentary could do a non-linear narrative or juggle different timelines of Rafa's life (which would have been something), it soon takes the usual route of a biopic.
Director: Carlos ArmellaWriter: León KrauzeStar: Rafa Márquez
We go back to the beginning. Rafa was born in Zamora, Michoacán. His father was also a footballer (also a center back) like him and was the main inspiration for his approach to the game. It's a pretty simple story like most athletes: being recognized as a child prodigy, then taking the big stage and shining. However, Rafa faced a problem when his high school principal was not entirely enthusiastic about the idea of him taking an extended leave to pursue football. But thanks to having a great group of parents, he had the opportunity to show bravery by dropping out of school.
Rafa's first big opportunity came when he signed for Mexican club Atlas. Then, coach Ricardo La Volpe really liked what he did and, after the incorporation of Rafa, Atlas' fortunes also changed. After spending 3 years there, he moved to French club Monaco. While many talented South American players fail to make it to Europe due to a sudden culture shock, Márquez had no problem adapting. In 2002, Márquez took the field in his first World Cup, also as captain. Mexico started well by advancing to the second round, but unfortunately lost to archrival United States despite being the favorite on paper. More bad things followed Rafa after the World Cup when his father fell ill (and eventually died), and he also had problems with his French club team. Monaco didn't like Rafa spending so much time in Mexico, and that's where the relationship soured and ultimately ended.
However, 2003 was a blessing for Rafa when he signed for Barcelona. It's somewhat ironic that Rafa (and his father) dreamed of him playing for Real Madrid one day (thanks to the fact that Hugo Sánchez, the most popular Mexican soccer player at the time, was a Real Madrid player) and then ending up at Real's home. His biggest rival, Barcelona. But Barcelona warmly welcomed Rafa and he soon became one of the most formidable Barça players of that era.
Rafa had the best period of his professional career in Barcelona, where he won the League four times and the prestigious UEFA Champions League (the highest award in club football for a team) several times, becoming the first Mexican to win. do it. . There was no doubt about Rafa's contribution to Barcelona's success, but towards the end of his Barcelona career, things were not working out for him, especially after returning from injury. When coach Pep Guardiola honestly told him that he no longer needed Rafa, he made the decision to embark on a new adventure: join the New York Red Bulls. Unfortunately, he did not have a good time in the United States. In the documentary he admits that moving there was a mistake. After the United States, Rafa finally returned to Mexico to play for León. He finally won the Mexican League with León. Finally, Rafa returned to Atlas, his childhood club, for his final years in club football.
The documentary also delves into Rafa's (and Mexico's) date with the soccer World Cup, where he never made it past the second round despite showing promise. The infamous Argent Roben penalty incident from the 2010 World Cup features in the documentary, and Rafa goes on to say that he believes it was not a penalty. The documentary does not show much of Rafa's personal life other than a little about his courtship with his second wife, Jaydy Michel. His children from his first marriage, Santiago and Rafaela, also briefly appear. Also mentioned are the dark days when he was accused of being involved with a drug cartel.
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