In 2014 making this thread would have sounded downright absurd. But now we are two years away from the World Cup and Rafa again is playing well for the NT at 37. Is there much difference between a 37 year old and a 39 year old Rafa? With the way today's athletes train and being as slow now as he will be then.Rafa's game is all mental and skill anyways.There is no replacing a Rafa Marquez and I feel like if he wanted to he could make it t0 the World Cup. Then again if he can lead the team to win this Cup it might be a good way to go out.
Will he break the record of number of world cups attended by an athlete by going to Russia? If so I think he may have a go at it, but idk man...
At best Rafá would tie it at 5 WC appearances Antonio Carbajal (Mexico) and Lothar Mattheus (Germany) are the only two players in history to have 5 WC participations. Rafá is close to getting there if he stays injury free and continues staying in good form. Funny, I wrote him off in 2010 since he "retired" at MMLS, but coming to Leon in 2013 really did wonders for him.
And Lothar Mathaus, but Carbajal did it first. [emoji106] [emoji110] [emoji109] [emoji108] [emoji122] Sent from my LG-E980 using Tapatalk
No he played a great match overall, defending, starting attack, goal was just cherry on top. Atlas as a whole had atrocious season. You cant deny Rafa's class in terms of vison, distribution, anticipation. He has been "slow" since he left Barcelona (and even then he wad always pretty slow to begin with). Not sure he will make it, but its possible. Also you cant say he has to make way for younger players, there is no next Rafa. He is a once in a lifetime player, especially for Mexico.
Assuming Buffon stays healthy and in form he would be going to his 6th world cup in Russia, and breaking the record.
We're still two years away. We'll probably be taking players who aren't even on the team right now. If we did take him it would be epic but he'll be 39 by then. Knowing Rafa he'd probably score again. This guy is a f*cking legend.
Rafa was good for the majority of the match but Godin was his man on their goal. Still, his leadership out there is sorely needed...at least when he's not ********ing up.
Rafa still playing shows we are inept at player development. We are stunting the growth of players like Araujo, Jordan Silva, Carlos Salcedo and Cesar Montes.
I see it another way. Players and leaders like Rafa only come around once in a while. There are very few leaders like him. If there was anyone else who could lead like him and contribute like him or better in his position they'd have his spot.
http://www.espnfc.com/mexican-liga-...among-22-sanctioned-for-drug-trafficking-ties Mexico's Rafael Marquez among 22 sanctioned for drug trafficking ties
Honestly, it wouldn't surprise me at all. With all the drug trafficking and the money that can be made, plus the well known corruption it's within the realm of possibilities. Obviously I don't want it to be true but if it is...meh.