As Rafael Marquez prepares to embark on a new adventure in the United States, Goal.com looks back at five of his best moments in a Barcelona jersey.
Between arriving at Camp Nou from Monaco in 2003 and departing for New York today, Rafa has played well over 200 games for the Blaugrana, winning four league titles, two Champions Leagues, and a lot more besides.
But what exactly were the most sparkling times for Rafa?
5. Clasico at Camp Nou, November 2004
That night in Camp Nou Barcelona displayed a supreme performance to defeat arch-rivals Real Madrid 3-0. The Blaugrana would go on to win the Spanish Primera Division title that season for the first time since 1999 and that win over los Blancos was massively encouraging.
Madrid rarely asked questions of Barca's defense that night and much was down due to Rafael Marquez's solid performance. Luis Figo, Raul, Ronaldo, Zinedine Zidane, Roberto Carlos and David Beckham all started but all were blocked by a defense marshaled by the Mexican.
4. Club America in the FIFA Club World Cup, Dec. 2006
Marquez isn't quite renowned for scoring goals but he did find the opposition's net in the FIFA Club World Cup. Barcelona featured in that competition in December 2006 as they had won the Champions League the previous season and took on Club America in the semi-finals.
It was an easy 4-0 win for the Blaugrana in the end and among the scorers was Marquez.He scored his side's second goal on the half hour mark when he out-muscled his marker and headed home Deco's in-swinging corner from the left. A typical center-back goal perhaps, but not a very easy one.
3. Chelsea at Stamford Bridge, February 2006
The game against Chelsea at Stamford Bridge in 2005-06 is often remembered for the wrong reasons but there was a great moment for Rafael Marquez. The Mexican centre-back had already seen a penalty appeal turned down by the referee in first-half stoppage time when he unleashed a ferocious shot that hit Geremi on the arm as he rose to block it.
However, ten minutes from full-time the now 31-year-old whipped in a brilliant cross that Samuel Eto'o headed home to win the match 2-1. That goal and that cross would eventually prove to be very crucial in the round of 16 tie.
2. Clasico at Camp Nou, December 2008
A player's 200th appearance for a club is always an emotional affair. But how much more striking is it when it's a derby against eternal rivals Real Madrid? A heck of a lot more. Add to that an assist for Lionel Messi's late strike and it was a day to remember for Rafa. It wasn't actually his greatest individual performance, but it was still a superb moment: his relevance to Barcelona, which had been in doubt, seemed to be restored, and this was the killer blow to Madrid's title challenge as Barca went on to capture the '09 title.
1. Champions League Final, May 2006
Barcelona's first Champions League since 1992 was the culmination of a superb season under Frank Rijkaard. For Marquez, though, it was a trophy lifted with relief as well as joy. The Mexican had only just recovered from a leg injury in time to play in the semi-final second leg against AC Milan, and this was not one of his greatest showings. However, Rijkaard retained his faith in Marquez, which the defender repaid with a calm performance against Arsenal in Paris. Although Barca were to go behind late in the first half, two goals right at the death from Samuel Eto'o and Juliano Belletti gave the Blaugrana - and Rafa - the trophy that they so coveted.
Between arriving at Camp Nou from Monaco in 2003 and departing for New York today, Rafa has played well over 200 games for the Blaugrana, winning four league titles, two Champions Leagues, and a lot more besides.
But what exactly were the most sparkling times for Rafa?
5. Clasico at Camp Nou, November 2004
That night in Camp Nou Barcelona displayed a supreme performance to defeat arch-rivals Real Madrid 3-0. The Blaugrana would go on to win the Spanish Primera Division title that season for the first time since 1999 and that win over los Blancos was massively encouraging.
Madrid rarely asked questions of Barca's defense that night and much was down due to Rafael Marquez's solid performance. Luis Figo, Raul, Ronaldo, Zinedine Zidane, Roberto Carlos and David Beckham all started but all were blocked by a defense marshaled by the Mexican.
4. Club America in the FIFA Club World Cup, Dec. 2006
Marquez isn't quite renowned for scoring goals but he did find the opposition's net in the FIFA Club World Cup. Barcelona featured in that competition in December 2006 as they had won the Champions League the previous season and took on Club America in the semi-finals.
It was an easy 4-0 win for the Blaugrana in the end and among the scorers was Marquez.He scored his side's second goal on the half hour mark when he out-muscled his marker and headed home Deco's in-swinging corner from the left. A typical center-back goal perhaps, but not a very easy one.
3. Chelsea at Stamford Bridge, February 2006
The game against Chelsea at Stamford Bridge in 2005-06 is often remembered for the wrong reasons but there was a great moment for Rafael Marquez. The Mexican centre-back had already seen a penalty appeal turned down by the referee in first-half stoppage time when he unleashed a ferocious shot that hit Geremi on the arm as he rose to block it.
However, ten minutes from full-time the now 31-year-old whipped in a brilliant cross that Samuel Eto'o headed home to win the match 2-1. That goal and that cross would eventually prove to be very crucial in the round of 16 tie.
2. Clasico at Camp Nou, December 2008
A player's 200th appearance for a club is always an emotional affair. But how much more striking is it when it's a derby against eternal rivals Real Madrid? A heck of a lot more. Add to that an assist for Lionel Messi's late strike and it was a day to remember for Rafa. It wasn't actually his greatest individual performance, but it was still a superb moment: his relevance to Barcelona, which had been in doubt, seemed to be restored, and this was the killer blow to Madrid's title challenge as Barca went on to capture the '09 title.
1. Champions League Final, May 2006
Barcelona's first Champions League since 1992 was the culmination of a superb season under Frank Rijkaard. For Marquez, though, it was a trophy lifted with relief as well as joy. The Mexican had only just recovered from a leg injury in time to play in the semi-final second leg against AC Milan, and this was not one of his greatest showings. However, Rijkaard retained his faith in Marquez, which the defender repaid with a calm performance against Arsenal in Paris. Although Barca were to go behind late in the first half, two goals right at the death from Samuel Eto'o and Juliano Belletti gave the Blaugrana - and Rafa - the trophy that they so coveted.
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