PROFILE | Igor Paixao awaiting take-off at Marseille | OneFootball

Signed from Feyenoord in the summer for a club-record sum, Paixão came with a reputation forged in the Eredivisie as a devastating left-sided attacker. Dutch Footballer of the Year in 2024/25, he had delivered 18 goals and 19 assists in his final season in Rotterdam and featured regularly in the Champions League.

However, a delayed start due to injury and the immediate physical demands of Ligue 1 slowed his take-off, while expectations of him becoming a mirror image of Mason Greenwood proved unrealistic. Yet under Roberto De Zerbi, Paixão has quickly evolved beyond the role of a touchline winger.

Christophe Dugarry captured the shift succinctly. “He’s not just a winger waiting for one-on-ones,” the former World Cup winner said. “He has a strong football IQ and an irreproachable mentality.” Paixão’s movement across the front line, his willingness to track back and his constant availability between the lines have made him a tactical necessity rather than a luxury.

That sacrifice has come at a cost. Paixão has been one of Marseille’s most heavily used players this season, often starting out of necessity due to injuries elsewhere in attack. De Zerbi has acknowledged that fatigue can affect his decision-making in the final third, but remains unequivocal about his importance. “Everyone has to attack and defend,” the Italian said. “Paixão does good things.”

Paixao finding a balance at Marseille

The numbers hint at both progress and potential. Paixao has thrived in the Champions League with four goals in just six appearances, and in Ligue 1, he has been on target on three occasions. Certainly a player more comfortable on the European stage, the Brazilian has shown a pragmatic adaptability to De Zerbi’s collective demands – often at the sacrifice of his own attacking output and consistency. It’s a combination that can lead to a frustrating watch at times, a player who needs more competition and the shackles let off him to truly find attacking consistency. 

But there has to be a balance. The Brazilian has sometimes been caught out of position, and with Greenwood operating effectively on the opposing flank, his defensive responsibilities have had to come first. Yet that flexibility explains why, even during uneven spells, he rarely leaves Roberto De Zerbi’s starting XI.

At 25, Paixão is still refining the balance between his attacking and defensive output. Marseille have not yet seen the full statistical explosion he delivered in the Netherlands. But they have gained a winger who plays for De Zerbi’s system. With a little more potency in front of goal, the Brazilian’s ceiling still remains high.

GFFN | George Boxall