Marquinhos-Pacho: at PSG, a rare duo making history

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·19 April 2026

Marquinhos-Pacho: at PSG, a rare duo making history

At Paris Saint-Germain, Marquinhos, 31, and Willian Pacho, 24, both central defenders, have formed a partnership that is changing the dimension of the club. In L’Équipe, the analyses of Ricardo and Alain Roche (both former PSG players) converge: Paris now has a defensive foundation of a different class, even by European standards.

“In terms of solidity, technique, complementarity, what they project is something very rare, even in Europe”

Ricardo:

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“For me, it’s the strongest, there’s no debate. But it’s also the story of a team and the tremendous work done by Luis Enrique and Luis Campos. In any case, in terms of solidity, technique, complementarity, what they project is something very rare, even in Europe.

Roche:

From the moment you win the Champions League and can then go on to win another one, your place stands apart. It is impossible to separate the mark left behind from the titles. Marquinhos is being rewarded for his exceptional longevity over more than twelve years. And Pacho is simply astounding. He has incredible composure, he dominates in duels. He reminds me of Ricardo because of the calmness he exudes.”

What Marquinhos and Pacho are building goes beyond the simple performance of an in-form duo. Under Luis Enrique, this central partnership has become a foundation of dominance, capable of securing the team without ever slowing its ambition in play.

Marquinhos brings authority, experience, and the reading of key moments; Pacho, for his part, embodies an impressive command, almost unsettling at this level of demand. Their complementarity is obvious, but what stands out even more is the sense of control they give off together. Paris no longer just defends better: Paris imposes its presence through the middle.

And when a central defense combines serenity, technique, and impact in duels to this extent, it no longer merely protects a team. It plays a direct role in taking it into another dimension. That is probably the strongest sign of today’s PSG: this partnership does not look like a temporary solution, but a lasting benchmark, capable of defining the Luis Enrique era.

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