FCBARCELONA.CAT

15.11.2009 10:25

Márquez makes Barça history

Sandra Sarmiento

Rafael Márquez is now tenth in the all-time record appearance holders for foreign players list at FC Barcelona after playing in his 227th game.

The Mexican international joined the Blaugrana in July 2003 after spending four seasons in the French league with Monaco. Club president Joan Laporta made Márquez one his first signings after winning control at Camp Nou and seven years later the player has written himself into the history books.

With an average of 36 games per season since joining the club, the central defender has showed his adaptability by also shining as a defensive midfielder while scoring seven goals. This term he has already played eight matches having made five league appearances, one in the Champions League and two in the Copa del Rey.

With his appearance against Cultural Leonesa in midweek Márquez surpassed Michael Laudrup into the top ten of foreign players' appearance records for Barça. The Danish player was at Camp Nou between 1989 and 1994 and played no less than 226 times for the club. Márquez previously edged in front of Ramon Villaverde, who appeared in 224 games.

The foreign player to have played the most games is Philip Cocu and the Dutchman played alongside Márquez in Rijkaard's first year in charge at the club.