Rafa Marquez

Rafa Marquez will no longer be playing professional football as he had announced prior to the start of the 2018 World Cup. The central defender, who is a historic figure for the Mexican national team, spoke in the mixed zone and confirmed the news.

"For now, I think I'm going to enjoy my free time. It has been 22 years of uninterrupted career, so my future will surely be involved in football," said Rafa Marquez after Mexico's elimination from the World Cup at the hands of Brazil, with a 2-0 defeat.

Despite Rafa Marquez's retirement, the central defender has left his mark on the World Cups, and in Russia 2018, he became the first captain to play in five World Cups (2002, 2006, 2010, 2014, and 2018).