Marquinhos, the 32-year-old central defender and captain for both Paris Saint-Germain and Brazil, spoke to beIN SPORTS following the Round of 16 defeat against Norway at the 2026 World Cup on Sunday night (1-2). Asked about his future with the national team, he made no secret of the fact that there are uncertainties.
Marquinhos: “A national team call-up is a summons, but I can understand if the coach wants to turn the page.”
“Playing for the country is a call-up; you can’t say no. The next World Cup is in four years; I’ll be 36, and it will be very difficult for me to continue at this high level.
Young players are coming through who will push us to be even better than we are now. We, the more experienced players, take responsibility for this match and this defeat so that the new generation can approach the next World Cup with peace of mind and arrive in the best possible conditions. We’ll see what happens next. A national team call-up is a summons, but I can understand if the coach wants to turn the page,” he said, as reported by Le Parisien.
Marquinhos isn’t closing the door; that wouldn’t fit his mindset. You don’t turn down a national team call-up. However, he is also aware that the years are passing and new generations are emerging. Competition at the highest level is fierce, and the next World Cup is a long way off.
Some might view this as a slight admission of vulnerability, while others see it as a clear-eyed assessment of his career stage and respect for the national team. His name alone shouldn’t guarantee a call-up; he will have to earn it through his performance. The choice lies with the coach, and Marquinhos will do his best to fulfill whatever is asked of him. As always.
Incidentally, the question of his playing time at PSG will also arise. For now, we are seeing a strategy of conserving resources in Ligue 1 in order to have the squad at full strength for the Champions League.
