Marquez world class wheter u like it or not if you dont think rafa marquez is world class then you definitely dont know sh!t about football, for gawds sake hes been praised by rete.it, marca, amongst other well know footie sites. other world class defenders are thuram, maldini, chivu, stam and nesta amongst others. i also believe that hierro is overrated.
I think Ferdinand is extremely overrated along with Hierro, Couto, and LeBouf... I would say my picks right now would be the following: Nesta Cannavaro Javier Zanetti Walter Samuel Marquez A few years back i would've put Desailly and Maldini in this group... but they've simply gotten a little long in the tooth... And i agree with the post that said to watch out for Milito... he will be among the world's best in the next few years...
The guy's a good soccer player, but THE BEST DEFENDER IN THE WORLD?! I'm gonna have to say no on that one. Not by a long shot.
This topic really should either be "the best center back or the best wing back". Center backs play a totally different game compare to the right/left backs. A typical center defender requires to be strong and tall so he could win in a one on one situation and head the ball away easily. While a left/right defender can be short but requires to be fast and needs to be good at crossing the ball. But I'll pick my best four Roberto Carlos--Nesta---Hyypia—Thuram
Yes, but he's had a couple of own goals and had many breakdowns on the back line. That's why he's liked.
He may be a thug but unlike many of the other hacks out there, this lad CAN play defense. His Franchino/ABMOD -type play prevents me from ranking him among the best.
They're not nightmares from being defended well. They're nightmares stemming from the felony assault Marquez committed against him at the World Cup. Surprised Joey Franchino hasn't been mentioned amongst the best defenders.
If he plays in any friendlies against the U.S. before then he won't be. I'd cap Franchino or Waibel and send him out there, to wreck his knees the first match the US saw him in. He also should have been arrested in South Korea.
Man I seriously cannot stand biased and uninformed tools like you. Marquez can score: http://cbs.sportsline.com/u/ce/multi/0,1329,2019061_5,00.html http://www.mundosoccer.com/despvar....l_nacional.html&url=selnacional/mexcol02.html http://www.soccerage.com/en/04/15905.html You are very foolish to dismiss Rafael Marquez for the mistake he made against the United States during the World Cup. Not only that, but you are using him as a scapegoat. That game was full of violence and taunting from both sides, and the fans even joined in making things worse. Friedel punched Borgetti's face and it was repeatedly shown onscreen. One of the USA defenders also handled a shot with his hand, which was also constantly repeated by the televisors. Mexican players may have behaved badly, but don't turn your head at the things that the U.S. players did. Both sides were not angelic in their performance whatsoever. Rafael Marquez IS a world class player, whether you, a kid who resides on an internet forum giving bullsh|it opinions, believes it or not. Marquez is an accomplished player that has earned recognition on both sides of the globe. Just by watching him play it is obvious that he is confident as a captain, can hold his ground, command the players on the field, defend with great skill, and distribute the ball cleanly and effectively. There is no denying that Rafael Marquez is among the best players in the world, unless you're a fool that doesn't know how to judge good footballers. - Joe
get over it Rafa Marquez is the best player in the CONCACAF and one of the top defenders in the world. give credit where credit is due You two are judging him for one bad game he had look at how well he plays for Monaco and with Mexico when hes called up hes fvckin brilliant. "but it takes "world class" to not play in a manner like that.... " So i guess Rivaldo (Turkey vs Brazil), Cafu (Wreking Jeremies legs@WC 2002 Final), Jay Jay Okocha (Arsenal vs Bolton), and Sol Campbell (Manchest Untd vs Arsenal) are not world class players... cmon guys ... players have their bad days now u dont see the media calling them thugs, diving, cheating bastards. Why do you guys down Rafa's talent like that?
You're acting like it happen in the midst of a play or challenge (all those other instances, which are mostly at worst bad sportsmanship). Marquez picked Cobi Jones out and deliberately, with malice, assaulted him. There was no accident, no mis-timed challenge, no trying to get an advantage by fooling the referree. The whole purpose of the act was to injure Cobi Jones. It's utter crap. And I don't care if he's the best defender of all time, I wouldn't want him anywhere near my favorite club or my national team. And comparing the "elbow" from Sol Campbell in the Arsenal/Man U. game, and what Marquez did is so freakin' ridiculous, it's not even funny.
Marquez may be one of the better defenders in the world, but he is also a punk bitch, just like rest of the mexican team.
Just pay attention to the Mexico-Brazil game tommorow when Marquez treats Ronaldo like his bitch. Then we'll all see who is the best defender in the world.