Holy derby: Marcos stars in the Libertadores and a new car in the garage | OneFootball

After helping Palmeiras eliminate Corinthians in the quarterfinals of the 1999 Copa Libertadores, Marcos still pulled off more miracles on the way to the final. In the semifinal, against River Plate, the No. 12 was Verdão’s best player in the 1-0 defeat in Buenos Aires. Thanks to him, Alviverde came back with only a minimal deficit, thrashed their opponent 3-0 in the return leg, and advanced to the final.

An unprecedented final

Palmeiras’ starting goalkeeper for three months, Marcos played his first final for the club against Deportivo Cali of Colombia. After a 1-0 loss away from home, the decisive match took place on June 16, 1999, at Palestra Italia. Verdão won 2-1 in regular time, with goals from Evair and Oséas, and were crowned champions on penalties, 4-3. On that occasion, one shot hit the post and Zapata’s decisive penalty went wide.

– Man, it was very important. The match there (in Colombia) was difficult, but once again Marcão showed his quality, right? We lost the game, but we were so confident that we went into the locker room and everyone was motivated. It felt like we were going to win, man, because we knew that in the second leg, my brother, at Parque Antártica, with those fans from start to finish – recalls Oséas, to NOSSO PALESTRA.

Leading role and a new car

Marcos’ journey in the Libertadores title run earned him the award for best player of the tournament. At the time, the winner received a brand-new Toyota, as the Japanese automaker sponsored the Libertadores.

– Marcos was the first goalkeeper in Libertadores history to receive the award as the best player, not as the best goalkeeper, but as the best player of the tournament. Because back then, the tournament’s best player was usually the one who scored the goal, the forward who won the title. In that edition, Marcos was chosen as the best player in the Libertadores – explains Carlos Pracidelli, to NP. He remembers what Marcos did with the prize:

– His intention really was to share it with the group of players, but the players themselves said he deserved that prize. Just as any one of us could have received it.

‘A living myth’

- Marcos is the greatest goalkeeper in Palmeiras history, because the greatest title in Palmeiras history for his generation is the title Palmeiras won because of him - says Paulo Vinícius Coelho, PVC, to NP.

For him, Marcos was the one responsible for coming off the bench, still in the group stage, leading Palmeiras to an unprecedented title and, in the process, becoming a Saint.

– Marcos is a living myth – PVC concludes.

Saint 6

Read more

Chitãozinho and Xororó? Marcos arrives with all the signs of a Palmeiras idolA calling card and the national team in the year of his first official match for PalmeirasThe board goes up in the derby: Oséas off, Marcos onAn atomic bomb about to explode

This article was translated into English by Artificial Intelligence. You can read the original version in 🇧🇷 here.