Having arrived at Paris Saint-Germain in 2013 at just 19 years old, Marquinhos (31) celebrated his 500th match in Parisian colors this week against Tottenham, as he revealed on the RMC Sport program “Rothen s’enflamme.” Between emotions, loyalty, and ambition, the captain reflects on his close relationship with the club that shaped him.
Marquinhos: “I really wanted the team to win so we could celebrate properly.”
“It was a special match for you yesterday, beyond the result and the importance of the game: your 500th for Paris Saint-Germain. How did you experience that match?”
“It was a special match, a Champions League match no less, we knew how difficult it would be. I really wanted the team to win so we could celebrate properly. As a defender, I didn’t want to concede that goal we did yesterday, and it bothers me a bit because of it.” But anyway, I think it was a good match. I managed to control my emotions during it. 500 is still a huge number.
Marquinhos “The Champions League title is always number 1”
Do you realize it anyway, Marquinhos? 500 matches with PSG, you arrived at 19, you’re 31 now…
Sometimes not, Jérôme can tell you that very well too, it all happens so fast in the flow of life that sometimes we don’t realize what we manage to do and accomplish. When I see the number there in front of me, the medal, it really sinks in.
Then people greet me, we also chat a bit with people from the club who saw me arrive. It touches me deeply, but sometimes, in life, things move so fast that we don’t realize these milestones. But it’s truly wonderful.
What has marked you the most at this club and what have you felt on the pitch?
Yes, I’ve experienced some very beautiful emotions here. The Champions League title, that’s always number 1. I think that’s the most memorable moment for me. And not just for me, but for all the fans, for everyone who loves this club. It was truly a special moment.
But I could mention many others. My arrival, very young, when I was ill. When I arrived, the club trusted me based on my talent and the year I had at Roma. The president had a lot of faith in me at that time, even when things were difficult. And I value that a lot, because in the end it worked out well, it paid off.
It was quite an incredible journey, with good times, with less good times, harder times, especially for me, but also for the club. I grew with those experiences, with those moments, and the club also grew with those moments and experiences. That’s why we’ve had somewhat similar journeys, me and the club. And that’s why it’s such a close-knit story.
Marquinhos: “The president never doubted his team and his players.”
You’re the last one left! There have been good times, but also darker periods. We remember the comeback. So, I don’t want to rub salt in the wound, but we have to talk to you about it. President Nasser Al-Khelaïfi, it’s true, he trusted you from the start. And then, you all grew, even him, with those setbacks and those good matches. What did you do to bounce back each time you took a hard knock?
Yes, I think the president was a key factor in motivating me to bounce back. I’ve said it every chance I get, and I’ll say it again. Because he never doubted me, the players he had at his disposal, or the players in the squad.
He’s always been someone who believes the players he had here, who wore this jersey proudly, were always the best in the world. He never stops saying it, even when we doubt it, when the fans doubt it, when the journalists doubt it. The president has never doubted his team or his players. Besides, my family has always been my fortress, so I can always bounce back in these difficult times.
You’re French anyway! More than Brazilian!
Almost! 13 years in France and 18 years in Brazil.
Marquinhos: “As long as I enjoy it, as long as I’m happy and they’re happy with my performances, why not?”
Do you want to finish your career in Paris? Do you want to be a man for a club like this and go all the way with Paris Saint-Germain?
Honestly, I’m not saying no. We know that staying at the top level until the end of your career… because if you’re at PSG, you have to be at the top and you have to be good. The competition is there; there are young players coming up, pushing hard, and they want their place.
And you have to keep being very good until you’re 37 or 38. I don’t know when I’m going to end my career. I want to play for a long time, as long as possible. I think I’m going to give everything for these colors. I’m 31, I’ve achieved a lot of goals, and I don’t want to go looking for goals elsewhere as long as I feel good, happy, loved, as long as I feel I still have my place in the team, and that the president is happy with my performances.
And the coach too, because he’s the boss of the team. As long as I enjoy it, as long as I’m happy, and as long as they’re happy with my performances, why not? I’m going to keep going.
Reaching the milestone of 500 matches is as much a life marker as a mere statistic for Marquinhos. His words clearly demonstrate this: time flies too quickly to fully grasp the impact of these years, but when he looks at the medal and the club’s reactions, he realizes the magnitude of his journey.
The 31-year-old defender explains that his trajectory has mirrored that of Paris Saint-Germain: a difficult arrival, constant progress, peaks like the European title, and, of course, shared scars, most notably the infamous comeback defeat.
He also emphasizes the central role of Nasser Al-Khelaïfi, who never doubted him, even in the darkest moments. This bond of trust fuels his desire to continue the adventure for as long as possible: as long as he remains effective, loved, and valuable, he sees no reason to look elsewhere for what Paris has given him for the past thirteen years.
Now, it’s time to celebrate the present and work for the future. His career will end one day, and there’s no question of exploiting Marquinhos to the very end and seeing him leave as a player past his prime. There are no favors to be done, but we can acknowledge that the Red and Blue captain is a legend.
