marquee player

{{Short description|Athlete considered to be exceptional}}

{{see also|Icon player}}

{{for|A-League players exempt from salary cap|Marquee player (A-League)}}

A marquee player is an athlete who is considered exceptionally popular, skilled, or otherwise outstanding, especially in professional sports.{{cite book|last1=Dalzell|first1=Tom|last2=Victor|first2=Terry|title=The New Partridge Dictionary of Slang and Unconventional English|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=bbcBCgAAQBAJ&pg=PA1461|accessdate=30 June 2016|year=2015|publisher=Routledge|isbn=978-1-317-37252-3|page=1461}} Its name comes from theater marquees, on which the names of the stars of productions in said theater are often emblazoned in order to draw spectators. Several sports leagues have specific definitions and rules regarding the designation and treatment of marque players.

In the Liga 1 of the Football Association of Indonesia, each team is allowed to designate one marquee player.{{cite web|url=http://www.cnnindonesia.com/olahraga/20170330135557-142-203742/demam-marquee-player-merambah-indonesia/|title=Demam Marquee Player Merambah Indonesia|publisher=}}

In the A-League of the Football Federation Australia, each team is allowed to designate two marquee players whose salaries are exempted from the league's salary cap.{{cite web|title=Sweeping changes to A-League cap unveiled|website=MSN|url=https://www.msn.com/en-au/sport/football/sweeping-changes-to-a-league-cap-unveiled/ar-BBlD3CO|accessdate=30 June 2016}} Similarly, in English Premiership rugby marquee players are excluded from salary cap constraints.{{Cite web|url=https://www.premiershiprugby.com/about-premiership-rugby/about-us/salary-cap/|title = Premiership Rugby Salary Cap}}

The All India Football Federation requires each I-League team to feature one marquee player. The federation defines "marquee players" as foreign players who have represented their country in one of several international championships. Teams are also allowed to propose other skilled players for the designation.{{cite web|title=AIFF defines meaning of marquee player|website=The Times of India|url=http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/sports/football/i-league/AIFF-defines-meaning-of-marquee-player/articleshow/35550632.cms|accessdate=30 June 2016}} Marquee players were also used in the Indian Super League and are currently used in Caribbean Premier League, Mzansi Super League and Minor League Cricket.

In World TeamTennis, a marquee player is not required to play the entire season and is compensated on a per-match basis. Marquee players are drafted in a marquee draft prior to the roster draft.{{cite web|title=2015 Mylan WTT Official Rules Guide |author=World TeamTennis |date=25 June 2015 |url=https://www.wtt.com/downloads/2015%20WTT%20Rules%20Guide%20-%206-25-15.pdf |accessdate=4 July 2016}}