Marques (footballer, born 1973)

2.1. Club career

Marques began his senior club career in 1993 with Corinthians Paulista, where he played until 1995. During his time at Corinthians, he made 36 appearances, scoring 9 goals. In 1996, he moved to Flamengo, making 19 appearances and scoring 4 goals.

From 1997 to 2002, Marques had a highly productive period with Atlético Mineiro, establishing himself as a key player. Over six seasons, he made 130 league appearances and scored 46 goals for the club. In 2003, he briefly joined Vasco da Gama, playing 11 league matches and scoring 1 goal before moving to Japan.

His first stint in Japan was with Nagoya Grampus Eight from 2003 to 2005. During the 2003 J1 League season, Marques was notably ranked second in assists with 10, only surpassed by Yukihiko Sato who had 12. He formed a strong partnership with fellow Brazilian Ueslei, who was the top goal scorer in the J1 League that season. In 2004, he had a standout season, scoring 17 goals in 29 league appearances. He also demonstrated remarkable precision with both feet, famously scoring a looping left-footed shot from a tight angle against Cerezo Osaka in the second stage of the 2004 season, a match in which he achieved a hat-trick.

Marques returned to Atlético Mineiro in 2005 for another season, making 30 league appearances and scoring 10 goals. From 2006 to 2007, he played for Yokohama F. Marinos in Japan, appearing in 31 league matches and scoring 2 goals. He concluded his playing career with a final return to Atlético Mineiro, playing from 2008 until his retirement in 2010.

2.2. National team career

Marques represented the Brazil national football team from 1994 to 2002. According to detailed statistics, he earned 11 caps and scored 3 goals during this period. He participated in six matches during the 2002 FIFA World Cup qualification campaign, scoring one goal as Brazil successfully qualified for the tournament. Some sources, however, report that he made 13 appearances and scored 4 goals for the national team.

His international appearances and goals are generally recorded as follows:

2.3. Playing style and characteristics

Marques primarily played as a forward and was renowned for his technical prowess and offensive capabilities. He was particularly noted for his precision in shooting, often utilizing his preferred right foot. However, he also possessed a high level of accuracy with his left foot, allowing him to score from various angles and situations, as exemplified by his impressive goal against Cerezo Osaka in the J1 League. His ability to both score goals and provide assists made him a valuable asset to his teams, especially during his time at Nagoya Grampus Eight where he excelled as a playmaker. He was affectionately known by the nickname Garçon^Portuguese, meaning "waiter" or "server", possibly due to his assist-providing abilities.

3.1. Club honours

Corinthians

• Campeonato Paulista: 1995
• Copa do Brasil: 1995

Flamengo

• Campeonato Carioca: 1996
• Copa de Oro: 1996

Atlético Mineiro

• Copa CONMEBOL: 1997
• Campeonato Mineiro: 1999, 2000, 2010

Vasco da Gama

• Campeonato Carioca: 2003

3.2. Individual honours

• Minas Gerais state league's top scorer: 1998 (13 goals for Atlético Mineiro)
• Brazilian Bola de Prata (Placar magazine's best eleven): 1999, 2001
• J1 League Best Eleven: 2004

4.1. Political career

In 2010, following his retirement from professional football, Marques announced his intention to run for political office with the Brazilian Labour Party. His political ambition came to fruition when he successfully ran as a candidate for a state assembly member position in Minas Gerais state. He secured a significant victory, garnering 153,000 votes, which made him the top elected candidate in that election. Marques served as a state assembly member for eight years, actively engaging in the democratic processes and legislative activities of the state.

4.2. Return to football

After dedicating eight years to his political career, Marques Batista de Abreu made a return to the world of football in 2018. He took on the role of youth academy coordinator at his former club, Atlético Mineiro. This move allowed him to contribute to the development of young talents and continue his involvement in the sport that defined his professional life.

5.1. Club statistics

5.2. National team statistics

The most detailed statistics indicate Marques played 11 matches and scored 3 goals for the Brazil national team. However, some sources report different totals, suggesting he played 13 matches and scoring 4 goals.