Rafael Márquez Álvarez, often hailed as the most accomplished player in Mexican soccer history, is now the focus of a new Netflix documentary. Known affectionately as “El Káiser de Michoacán” or simply “Rafa,” Márquez’s illustrious career spanned over two decades, during which he won numerous domestic and international titles across four countries. He also captained the Mexican national team in five consecutive World Cup tournaments.
The documentary, titled “Rafa Márquez: El Capitán,” premiered earlier this month on Netflix. Directed by Carlos Armella and written by journalist León Krauze, the film joins the ranks of other soccer-centric documentaries on the platform, such as “Maradona In Mexico,” “Pelé,” and “Beckham.” Márquez, who has always been private about his life, was initially hesitant about the project. However, he eventually decided to move forward with the idea after discussing it with his close friend Pablo Cruz, co-founder of El Estudio.
“In my private life, I’ve always been very hermetic. I don’t think I’ve ever had the temptation to make a documentary,” Márquez admitted. He added that the trust and friendship he shared with Cruz made him comfortable enough to open up for the film.
The documentary traces Márquez’s journey on the soccer field, starting with his early days at Mexican club Atlas FC. His career took off when he joined AS Monaco, becoming the first Mexican player to win a title in France’s Ligue 1. His success continued at FC Barcelona, where he made history as the first Mexican to win the UEFA Champions League.
However, the film doesn’t shy away from the lows of his career. It covers Mexico’s heartbreaking loss to the United States at the 2002 FIFA World Cup, a match that led to the infamous “dos a cero” taunt. For Márquez, the rivalry with the U.S. was deeply personal, a sentiment rooted in a family issue that he prefers viewers discover through the documentary.
Off the field, “El Capitán” delves into Márquez’s personal struggles, including the sanctions imposed on him by the U.S. Treasury Department in 2017 for alleged money laundering. He was eventually cleared of any wrongdoing by both Mexican and U.S. authorities.
The film also explores Márquez’s relationship with his father, Rafael Márquez Esqueda, whose own soccer career inspired his son. The senior Márquez passed away shortly after the 2002 World Cup, leaving a lasting impact on Rafa. “My father was a very important person, a pillar of who I am. The most important thing I learned from him is discipline,” Márquez said. He strives to instill the same values in his children and his players.
Currently, Márquez is the head coach of FC Barcelona Atlétic, the reserve team for the Catalonian club. “Now that I’m a coach and responsible for a group of young players, I try to motivate them in one way or another,” he said. His experience as a young player moving to Europe at 20 helps him relate to his team.
Though his coaching career is still in its early stages, Márquez has already made an impression. He started coaching the youth team of Spanish club Real Sociedad Deportiva Alcalá in 2020 before taking his current role in 2022. Barcelona legends Carles Puyol and Samuel Eto’o, who appear in the documentary, believe Márquez has the potential to lead the Mexican national team one day.
“For that job, I have to keep working, I have to be well prepared,” Márquez said. “I have to create my own guarantees to try to earn that job. My idea is to continue preparing myself, gaining experience to achieve that, God willing, and do a great job at it.”
Márquez’s determination and values remain unchanged from his days as a professional athlete. “My mentality, my values, need to be the same as when I was a professional athlete, with the intention of making history, no matter where I’m at,” he said. “If I commit to something, I do it well.”
“Rafa Márquez: El Capitán” offers an intimate look into the life of one of Mexico’s greatest soccer icons. From his early years in Zamora, Michoacán, to his moments of glory with Barcelona and the Mexican national team, the documentary captures the essence of Márquez’s journey both on and off the field.
