He may be 35-years-old but centre-back Rafael Marquez remains an important leader for Mexico ahead of the FIFA World Cup? in Brazil.

據FIFA網站報道，35歲的墨西哥隊中后衛拉婓爾·馬奎斯（Rafael Marquez）仍然是巴西世界杯開鑼前球隊的重要領袖人物。

The former Barcelona player will be appearing in his fourth World Cup for the Aztecs and coach Miguel Herrera says his presence is of huge benefit to the other members of the squad.

這位前巴薩球員將在阿茲特克球場（Aztecs）上出場，參加第四次世界杯。教練米格爾·埃雷拉（Miguel Herrera）稱，他能給球隊其他隊員帶來巨大收獲。

"Bringing Rafael Marquez along has had an important impact on the lads, he's someone his team-mates have a lot of respect for, he's a natural leader," Herrera said.

埃雷拉說道：“拉斐爾·馬奎斯對他的隊友有重要的影響，隊友們都很尊敬他。他是一個天生的領導。”

Two years ago, Marquez's career seemed to be winding down after ten years and 120 caps as his country's captain. He had left Bar?a to join New York Red Bulls of Major League Soccer (MLS) in 2010, while in 2012 he was discarded from the Mexico set-up.

兩年前，在馬奎斯職業生涯達到十年，第120次成為國家隊隊長之后，他的職業生涯開始下滑。2010年，馬奎斯離開巴薩，加入美國 足球大聯盟(Major League Soccer, MLS)的紐約紅牛隊(New York Red Bulls)。在2012年，墨西哥隊宣布不再錄用他。

Bringing Rafael Marquez along has had an important impact on the lads, he's someone his team-mates have a lot of respect for, he's a natural leader.

Mexico head coach Miguel Herrera

拉斐爾馬奎斯對他的隊友有重要的影響，隊友們很尊敬他。他是一個天生的領導。

------------墨西哥隊主教練米格爾埃雷拉

But a move to Mexican giants Leon in 2013 helped resurrect both his club and international career as he helped the side to the last two Mexican titles. And now he is set to extend his record 12 World Cup appearances for his country.

不過，2013年，他轉會至墨西哥巨人列昂（Leons）俱樂部，獲得了最近兩年的聯賽冠軍，讓俱樂部和他的國家隊生涯得以重生。現在他將繼續續寫他的記錄，第12次代表國家出現在世界杯賽場上。

"Rafa Marquez is a marshal, a commander in chief, he's the most intelligent, most lucid, most technical (of the players)," former Mexico striker Luis Garcia said.

前墨西哥前鋒路易斯·加西亞（Louis Garcia）說，“馬奎斯是一個指揮官，是一名司令官，他是（球員中）最聰明，最清醒，技術最好。”

Marquez's comeback to the Mexico fold was much needed as the team was on the brink of failing to qualify for the World Cup, for the first time since being banned from the 1990 edition for using over-aged players in qualification for the 1989 World Youth Championships, as they underwent a disastrous CONCACAF qualification phase.

馬奎斯的復出對墨西哥隊來說是非常有必要的，因為該球隊很可能無緣本屆世界杯。由于在1989年的世界青年錦標賽中禁止使用了超齡球員，他們被禁止參加1990年世界杯。而當時，他們經歷了一場災難性的中北美及加勒比海地區（CONCACAF）預選賽。

They needed two injury-time goals by the USA in their 3-2 win at Panama to avoid being knocked out of the competition.

由于美國隊3-2贏了巴拿馬，墨西哥隊需要在傷停補時中攻兩球，才能避免淘汰。

But that ensured they would play New Zealand in a play-off to reach the finals, with Mexico finding their form to trounce the All Whites 9-3 on aggregate.

不過，在附加賽中，墨西哥找回了狀態，以9-3擊敗新西蘭隊，確保自己進入決賽圈。

（譯者 1104韓金霞 編輯 王旭泉）