Marco Antonio Mendoza Abate (1947 â 22 January 2022) was a Honduran footballer. Nicknamed "TonÃÂn", he played for Olimpia throughout the late 1960s and the 1970s, winning many titles with the club. He also represented Honduras for the 1967 and 1971 CONCACAF Championships.
Mendoza began his career for Olimpia during the 1966âÂÂ67 Honduran Liga Nacional where his inaugural season saw the club win their first ever national title with this success later being emulated in the following 1967âÂÂ68 Honduran Liga Nacional. He was a part of the golden generation of the 1970s that saw him win the 1969âÂÂ70 and 1970âÂÂ71 Honduran Liga Nacional. He also was part of the winning squad for the 1972 CONCACAF Champions' Cup that later participated in the 1973 Copa Interamericana, serving as captain throughout this period. His final season was also a winning one, taking home the 1977âÂÂ78 Honduran Liga Nacional before his retirement with 9 goals throughout his entire career.
Mendoza was first called up to represent Honduras for the 1967 CONCACAF Championship where the Catrachos achieved third place in the tournament. Two years later, he was part of the Honduran squad that participated in the 1970 FIFA World Cup qualifiers, notably playing in the away match against El Salvador at the Estadio Flor Blanca that would later culminate in the outbreak of the Football War. Following his participation in the 1971 CONCACAF Championship, he participated in the 1973 CONCACAF Championship qualifiers but wouldn't appear in the final squad for the tournament.
Mendoza died on 22 January 2022 in New Jersey at the age of 75 from COVID-19 complications.