(This article appeared in the March 21, 2005 issue of Soccer America Magazine.)

By Mike Woitalla

Forty years ago, Hector Sanchez, a Mexico City car mechanic bounced an 8-year-old boy on his lap and asked his friends, ''Do you know who this guy is?''

They responded that, of course, it's your son Hugo.

''Yes,'' said Hector, ''but he's also going to be the best player in Mexican soccer history.''

In this case, a parent's assessment of his own child's talent proved accurate. And it's because Hugo Sanchez starred outside of his own country that no one disputes he was the greatest Mexican soccer player ever. Sanchez, who retired in 1997, led Spain's La Liga in scoring five times while playing for Atletico Madrid and Real Madrid in 1981-92.

What has frustrated, even embarrassed Mexican soccer fans since the glory days of ''Hugol'' is that no other player from their country has managed find stardom abroad. That is until Rafael Marquez left home five years ago.

''I grew up watching Hugo Sanchez playing for Real Madrid on television,'' Marquez, 25, told El Universal. ''I dreamed of one day following his footsteps to Spain and succeeding as he did. He was my idol, an example to follow.''

Seventeen years after his birth in Zamora in the state of Michoacan, Marquez became the youngest player to debut for Mexico. After three years with Guadalajara club Atlas, Marquez joined Monaco on a $6 million transfer fee. He played 23 games, scored three goals and lifted the 2000 French league title in his first season.

After three seasons with Monaco, Marquez moved to Spain, becoming Barcelona's first Mexican player.

Now in his second season with the Catalan club, he's patrolling the central defense for La Liga's leader. He's also scored three goals, after each of which he kissed the bracelet given to him by his wife, Adriana Lavat, a Mexican actress and variety show host.

Marquez's success has ended a long series of disappointing attempts by Mexican players to make it abroad. Luis Garcia, Francisco Palencia and Cuauhtemoc Blanco, for example, all failed to make an impact in Spain.

When Palencia joined Espanyol in 2001, then Mexican national team coach, Javier Aguirre, who now coaches La Liga's Osasuna, said, ''Palencia made $1 million in Mexico. In Spain, he earns $300,000. In Europe, clubs don't pay as well for Mexicans, so we only have three or four players in Europe.''

South American players who venture to Europe cannot earn nearly as well in their homelands, so they may be more inspired to overcome the obstacles they encounter. When the going gets rough for Mexican stars, they can go home and still earn handsomely.

As to why he's the first success since Sanchez, Marquez, known in Mexico as ''El Kaiser de Michoacan,'' says, ''It's difficult to leave behind all you have in Mexico and sometimes this is the main reason why you want to return home and why you can't perform at your peak here. I believe that's basically it, homesickness.

''It's also true that [clubs] pay players in Mexico too much and that's why they prefer to stay there. But I believe it's better to leave because if you want to improve you have to play with the best. And the best are in Spain, the world's top league, which is why I am here.''

But Marquez, who does say he makes a lot more money in Europe than he did in Mexico, is excelling not only because he's overcome homesickness.

A hard tackler, excellent passer and good header with skill on the ball, Marquez plays comfortably in the center of a four-man backline, on the right of the backline of a 3-5-2, as he does often with Mexico, or as a defensive midfielder, where he has seen time for club and country.

Marquez was the youngest captain at the 2002 World Cup, where Mexico played some of the best ball in the group stage before being ousted by the United States in the round of 16.

U.S. assistant coach Curt Onalfo, who has been scouting Mexico in preparation for the March 27 showdown at Azteca Stadium, says Marquez adds an extra dimension to El Tri's game.

''Usually, Mexico plays a short-passing combination game,'' Onalfo says. ''Marquez can hit a ball over distance very well.''