PROFILE | Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang’s Marseille return more than romance | OneFootball

Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang’s second return to Olympique de Marseille was met with equal parts romance and scepticism. His first spell had been exceptional (30 goals in 51 games) but his subsequent departure to Saudi Arabia felt like a closing chapter. When he came back, questions lingered: could his body still withstand Ligue 1 intensity, Champions League demands and Roberto De Zerbi’s relentless tempo?

The answer, emphatically, has been yes. Across all competitions this season, Aubameyang has combined goals with creativity, becoming not just a finisher but one of Ligue 1’s most productive playmakers. With five goals and five assists in league action, he has joined an exclusive group of players across Europe’s top five leagues to reach that benchmark, while his assist tally briefly led Ligue 1 outright.

What has evolved most is his game intelligence. Aubameyang no longer relies purely on explosive runs in behind. Instead, he drifts intelligently, occupies defenders, presses aggressively and creates space for others. Marseille’s attack has thrived on that balance, boasting the division’s most prolific offence, with Aubameyang acting as both catalyst and conduit when Mason Greenwood can’t hit the back of the net.

A match-winning brace against Newcastle

The numbers back up that eye test. Marseille have won every game that Aubameyang has scored – and in the Champions League, he rolled back the years with an excellently-taken brace against Newcastle to become the oldest player to score twice in the competition for a French club.

Aubameyang’s leadership has been just as significant. With Amine Gouiri sidelined through injury, the Gabonese forward has carried the attacking responsibility almost alone at times. That has seen him tire and wane towards the final matches in 2025. Yet, even when goals have dried up, his movement, pressing, and selflessness have allowed younger teammates to flourish around him

There is also an emotional dimension. Aubameyang’s career has taken him across Europe’s elite at Dortmund, Arsenal, Barcelona. Yet Marseille has become his chosen home. His connection with the city, the crowd and the club’s identity has only deepened with age. 

“It’s great to see my hard work paying off, even if it’s not finished,” Aubameyang has reflected. Aubameyang is no longer measured solely by raw output. Like fine wine, he has matured – and for Marseille, that refinement continues to make the difference, especially on the biggest stages.

GFFN | George Boxall