Mexico have had a very long list of defenders in the past, including people like Horacio Casarín, considered since the 1950s to be the country’s greatest defender. However, many consider Rafa Marquez to be the greatest the country has ever known. The professional footballer played for the Mexican national team and Atlas until the end of the 2017/2018 season. Here is everything to know about him.

Rafa Marquez Biography and Age

It was on February 13, 1979 that the legendary Mexican defender was born as Rafael Márquez Álvarez in the Mexican town of Zamora de Hidalgo, Michoacán. It was in the country that he was raised by his father, Rafael Márquez Esqueda, who unsurprisingly was also a professional player and defender, as well as his mother, Rosa Maria Álvarez.

Although not much is known about his personal life or how he was brought up, the star defender started playing football from childhood under the influence of his father.

Rafael became very close to his mother who, like the player, has been linked to drug trafficking although both have always denied it.

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The legendary player was married in 2001 to Adriana Lavat, Mexican actress and TV star. The two got married in 2001, but the marriage could not survive beyond 2007 as it ended in divorce rather quickly.

The next time he would marry was in 2011. This time again, it was to actress and model Jaydy Michel. Since then they have been together as an item.

Of the two marriages, Rafaela Marquez has two children, Rafaela Márquez and Santiago Rafael Márquez, both of whom were born to him from his first wife.