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

After helping Palmeiras eliminate Corinthians in the quarterfinals of the 1999 Copa Libertadores, Marcos kept performing miracles all 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 returned home with only a narrow deficit, thrashed their opponent 3-0 in the second 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 after winning the penalty shootout 4-3. On that occasion, one shot hit the post and Zapata’s decisive penalty went wide.

– Man, it was really important. The match there (in Colombia) was tough, 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 fired up. 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 brand-new car

Marcos’ journey in Palmeiras’ Libertadores-winning campaign 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 just the best goalkeeper, but the best player in the competition. Because back then, the best player in the tournament was usually the one who scored the goals, the striker who won the title. In that edition, Marcos was chosen as the best player of the Libertadores – explains Carlos Pracidelli to NP. He recalls 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 award. Just as any one of us could have received it.

‘A living myth’

- Marcos is the greatest goalkeeper in Palmeiras history, because the biggest title in Palmeiras history in his generation is the title Palmeiras won because of him - Paulo Vinícius Coelho, known as PVC, tells NP.

For him, Marcos was the one who came off the bench, still in the group stage, and led Palmeiras to their unprecedented title, while also becoming a Saint along the way.

– Marcos is a living myth – PVC concludes.

Saint 6

Read more

Chitãozinho and Xororó? Marcos arrives with all the evidence of being 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 out, Marcos inAn atomic bomb about to explode

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