Mexican former FC Barcelona star Rafael Marquez leaves after a press conference in Guadalajara, Mexico on August 9, 2017. Mexican footballer Rafael Márquez, a former captain of the Aztec national team, denied any involvement with criminal organizations on Wednesday after being accused of links to drug trafficking by the US Department of the Treasury. Pic/AFP

The U.S. Treasury Department said on Wednesday it had sanctioned Mexican soccer star Rafael Marquez for allegedly serving as a front man for a suspected drug trafficker.