Fabinho, the 32-year-old Brazilian international defensive midfielder (30 caps), who previously played for AS Monaco (2013-2018) and Liverpool (2018-2023) and currently plays for Al-Ittihad, was invited by L’Equipe to write a profile of Marquinhos, the 31-year-old central defender and captain of Paris Saint-Germain, with whom he regularly plays on the national team.
Fabinho: “Everything he brings to the pitch, both on and off it, is important.”
“What he’s doing is very special, especially with his last season at Paris Saint-Germain: they finally won the Champions League with him as captain, after several years of trying to bring that back to Paris. They did it in style. We’re really happy for him. He’s also captain of the national team. He’s someone with experience, who is very intelligent. Everything he brings on and off the pitch is important. I’m happy for him and happy with everything he’s doing.
Fabinho: “Marquinhos is a leader at PSG and with the national team.”
We hope he’ll add something very special soon (the World Cup). He’s become a bit like Thiago Silva was, which is to say, the leader of the national team. Marquinhos is a leader at PSG and with the national team. He knows his responsibility, he knows his level and what he brings to the team. It’s good for him to have this status, but it’s not by chance.” He deserves all of this. He’s still at the very, very highest level.”
It’s striking to see the praise Marquinhos receives from teammates and coaches who know him, while some journalists and fans continue to claim he’s more of a problem at PSG. Both as a defender and as captain. It certainly raises some questions and prompts a step back. At least, that would be a logical reaction.
The Brazilian defender has established himself at PSG and with the national team, and that doesn’t happen by chance. There’s a certain level of play and a certain mindset required. We often see him talking to his teammates before and during matches. Many players also emphasize his role in everyday life. He’s not the type to shout indiscriminately, nor to criticize his team after a poor performance. However, who decided that this is what it means to be a good captain? We’ve seen all the fuss following Ousmane Dembélé’s (the 28-year-old striker) media appearance in Rennes, even though it was a collective remark that was far from harsh.
Marquinhos deserves credit, and it’s a shame to see some people overlook his remarkable career. We hope he can win major titles, including another Champions League with PSG. Eventually, perhaps he’ll be recognized as a great player and captain.
