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SAMARA, Russia
After the whistle announcing a new World Cup elimination, Rafael Márquez gave time to comfort some of his teammates who ended the match and cried. Then, crossed, looked at the sky and disappeared through the stadium tunnel
Márquez, one of the most successful Mexican footballers in history , was the big surprise of the starting training. 45 minutes, in which he helped preserve the draw 0-0. But the central defender left Arena Samara discouraged by the rest of the Mexicans for another failed attempt to reach the elusive goal of a quarter-final away from home.
Photo: Reuters
He made the dual decision as a contention. The legs did not give him to show the level that labeled him as an international figure with Barcelona. But he fought and put order, in defense and in front.
A technician on the field who enjoyed more strength in the spirit than in the legs, at least in this 2018 World Cup.
Scans and cuts. Diagonal at the foot. In the end, the touch is not lost, say those who know. And Rafael Márquez knows
He will never enter the field again nor with the national team nor with any club.
Photo: Reuters
After five World Cups and a career of almost 22 years, Márquez's career had a sad end, when Mexico fell to Brazil . For the seventh consecutive World Cup, the Tricolor was ransacked in the last 16.
This is not the final we wanted, we came to Russia looking to achieve things in a group and not individually, "said Márquez at the end of the match. "Maybe I do not care how it happens."
The former defender of Barcelona, who had announced that Russia 2018 would be the last tournament of his career, played 148 games with his team, the third highest in history for a Mexican. To leave the mark of more matches in World Cup for an Aztec football player, with 18.
We are proud of the match we played, we had some chances of goal against a team that aspires to the title "We are proud of what has been shown today," said Márquez. "We are going up … sad to be out of the World Cup and we have come up with something else."
Photo: Reuters
In addition, he is with Cuauhtémoc Blanco and Javier Hernández one of three Tri players with goals in three different World Cups.
Russia, the 39-year-old veteran He registered his name in the record books when he played his fifth World Cup to join his compatriot Antonio "Tota" Carbajal and German Lothar Matheus But at his last World Cup he played 83 m inutes in three different matches: 22 against Germany, 16 against South Korea and 45 against Brazil.
For the beginning of the second half, Miguel Layún replaced Márquez . Shortly after, Neymar's goal opened the way for Brazil's 2-0 win.
Photo: Reuters
Márquez's farewell was sad not only because of what had happened inside the camp, but also on the outside. charges brought by the US Treasury Department against a drug dealer. 19659011] For now I will enjoy free time, it's been 22 years of uninterrupted trajectory and in the future I will surely be involved in football. "
HIS WAY [19659002] Márquez made his debut in Mexico with the Atlas club at age 17. Three seasons later, he emigrated to the French Monaco, where he was champion in his first season
In 2003 he was acquired by Barcelona, with whom he lived for seven years He won the leagues of 2005, 2006, 2009 and 2010, as well as the Champions of 2006 and 2009. In this last year, he was crowned at the World Cup of Clubs.
Photo: AP
After that he played with the New York Red Bulls and returned to the Mexican league in 2012 to join León, with whom he has achieved a double championship.
The defender returned to Europe in 2014 to play with Hellas Verona and again returned to the Mexican soil, with Atlas, where he spent the last three years of his career and retired this year
"Rafa", South Korea World Cup 2002, All Germany 2006, South Africa 2010, Brazil 2014 and Russia 2018, now ready for a life without football.
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