Marco Fabián
A creative Mexican midfielder known for his spectacular goals and technical flair, who clinched Olympic gold and became a fan favorite for El Tri.
Born 1989 (age 37)·Mexican footballer·Birthday: July 21·Millennials
Biography
Marco Fabián's career is a story of dazzling highs, marked by moments of pure technical magic that endeared him to fans of the Mexican national team and Chivas de Guadalajara. A product of Chivas's famed academy, he broke through as a creative attacking midfielder with a penchant for the spectacular—his bicycle kick goal for Chivas remains the stuff of legend. His vision and left-footed elegance made him a crucial part of Mexico's 2012 Olympic gold medal-winning team in London, a pinnacle of national pride. While a subsequent move to the German Bundesliga with Eintracht Frankfurt showed flashes of his quality, his journey was also punctuated by injuries and nomadic spells across various leagues. Through it all, Fabián remained a player capable of conjuring a moment of brilliance out of nothing, a symbol of the joyful, unpredictable spirit of Mexican football.
Millennials
1981–1996
The first digital natives. Grew up with the internet, came of age during 9/11 and the 2008 crash. Highly educated, deeply indebted, slower to marry and buy houses. Redefined work, identity, and what it means to be an adult.
Marco was born in 1989, placing them squarely in the Millennials. The events that shaped this generation — the internet revolution, 9/11, and the 2008 financial crisis — shaped the world they entered and the choices available to them.
#1 When Marco Was Born
The biggest hits of 1989
#1 Movie
Batman
Best Picture
Driving Miss Daisy
#1 TV Show
Roseanne
Marco's Life & Times
The world at every milestone
1989Born
Berlin Wall falls; Tiananmen Square protests
Gas: $1.00/galHome: $79,100Min wage: $3.35/hrPresident: George H.W. Bush"Look Away" — ChicagoBest Picture: Driving Miss Daisy
1994Started school
Nelson Mandela elected president of South Africa
Gas: $1.11/galHome: $90,400Min wage: $4.25/hrPresident: Bill Clinton"The Sign" — Ace of BaseBest Picture: Forrest Gump
2002Became a teenager
Euro currency enters circulation
Gas: $1.36/galHome: $137,800Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: George W. Bush"How You Remind Me" — NickelbackBest Picture: Chicago
2005Could drive
Hurricane Katrina devastates New Orleans; YouTube launches
Gas: $2.30/galHome: $167,500Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: George W. Bush"We Belong Together" — Mariah CareyBest Picture: Crash
2007Could vote
iPhone released; Great Recession begins
Gas: $2.80/galHome: $172,600Min wage: $5.85/hrPresident: George W. Bush"Irreplaceable" — BeyonceBest Picture: No Country for Old Men
2010Turned 21
Deepwater Horizon oil spill; iPad launched
Gas: $2.79/galHome: $147,800Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Barack Obama"Tik Tok" — KeshaBest Picture: The King's Speech
2019Turned 30
First image of a black hole; Hong Kong protests
Gas: $2.60/galHome: $224,400Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Donald Trump"Old Town Road" — Lil Nas XBest Picture: Parasite
2026Age 37 today
Gas: $3.91/galPresident: Donald Trump
Key Achievements
- Won an Olympic gold medal with the Mexico national team at the 2012 Summer Games in London.
- Scored a famous bicycle kick goal for Chivas de Guadalajara against Pumas UNAM in the 2011 Liga MX playoffs.
- Played in the UEFA Europa League for German club Eintracht Frankfurt, scoring in the competition.
Did You Know?
His middle name, Jhonfai, is a unique spelling derived from his father's name, John, and the Thai word 'fai' meaning fire.
He has a large tattoo of the Olympic rings on his back to commemorate the 2012 gold medal.
He played alongside his brother, Carlos Fabián, at Chivas de Guadalajara early in his career.
“In Guadalajara, we play with joy, but we fight for every ball.”
