There's no denying the verve and intensity of the USA vs. Mexico rivalry. At the heart of those rivalries are the captains of the teams, themselves. Michael Bradley and Rafael Marquez are two fantastic players, but their respective roads to the captaincy are as different as they come. As we gear up for the next edition of the derby in World Cup qualifying (Nov. 11, 7 p.m. ET on FS1), we take a look at the captains in their early years as well as now.
Getty Images
Then: Michael Bradley
Michael Bradley began his USMNT senior career in 2006. As a fixture on the USA's youth teams, it was a natural progression for the Princeton, New Jersey native. He trained with the U.S. ahead of the 2006 World Cup and earned his first national team cap on May 26 against Venezuela.
Bradley's future with the USA was always a sure thing. A mainstay for the Olympic team in the 2008 games, Bradley found himself pulling double duty early in his career. Not only did Bradley patrol the midfield at the 2007 Gold Cup (where the U.S. won the title), he played in the FIFA U-20 World Cup that same year.
Bradley had all of the early makings of future captain for the USMNT.
Getty Images
Then: Rafael Marquez
Like Bradley, Marquez started brightly for his national team and never looked back. The biggest difference being that Marquez began his journey roughly a decade before Bradley. The Mexican made his debut for El Tri in 1997 and made Mexico's 1999 Copa America roster at the young age of just 20. A hulking defender with a keen sense for the game, Marquez became a fixture for El Tri.
By the time his was 23, Marquez was sporting the captain's armband for Mexico. Then manager Javier Aguirre saw it fit to bestow the honor despite Marquez's age, a credit to the young Mexican. To make it even more impressive, Marquez was charged with captaining the Mexican team in the 2002 World Cup. Seeing in the central of the Mexican defense on the world's biggest stage would become a familiar sight.
Getty Images
Now: Michael Bradley
Bradley has only just recently been named the USA's captain, but it wasn't for a lack of worth. The midfielder was a midfield anchor for the USMNT in the 2010 World Cup and was rewarded with the armband for the first time on August 10, 2010, in a friendly in his native New Jersey. It wasn't a permanent designation, but it showed a glimpse of what he brought to the side.
At the 2014 World Cup, Bradley started every game for the U.S. Bradley's predecessor at captain, Clint Dempsey, was stripped after an altercation with a referee before the 2015 Gold Cup. The decision to name his replacement was an easy one for U.S. Soccer and manager Jurgen Klinsmann. Bradley re-strapped on the captain's armband and has been the midfield man pulling the strings ever since.
Getty Images
Now: Rafael Marquez
Gaining the captain's armband was just the beginning for Marquez. His first World Cup ended with a loss to the USA, but Marquez's staying power hasn't been significantly shaken. He led the El Tri in 2006, 2010 and again in 2014, earning the honor of being the first player to captain a team in four World Cups. He found the back of the net in Mexico's most recent World Cup stint, which made him the first Mexican to score in three consecutive World Cups. Marquez has declined as time has worn on, but that's to be expected. He's now 37 years old and will be 38 come February. Nevertheless, he's held onto the captain's armband when he gets the call-up. Just this past summer, Marquez captained Mexico at the Copa America Centenario, which was held in the United States. As with most veterans, he's offset his diminishing skillset with a wealth of experience. He's featured in 37 World Cup qualifiers, 16 World Cup final matches and countless friendlies. El Tri manager Juan Carlos Osorio is as unpredictable as they come when picking a roster, but Marquez is tough to overlook.
Marquez has declined as time has worn on, but that's to be expected. He's now 37 years old and will be 38 come February. Nevertheless, he's held onto the captain's armband when he gets the call-up. Just this past summer, Marquez captained Mexico at the Copa America Centenario, which was held in the United States. As with most veterans, he's offset his diminishing skillset with a wealth of experience. He's featured in 37 World Cup qualifiers, 16 World Cup final matches and countless friendlies. El Tri manager Juan Carlos Osorio is as unpredictable as they come when picking a roster, but Marquez is tough to overlook.
Getty Images
