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·17 de fevereiro de 2026

PSG – Marquinhos, the true leader as described by a Brazil international

Fabinho, a 32-year-old Brazilian international defensive midfielder (30 caps) who notably played for AS Monaco (2013-2018) and Liverpool (2018-2023) and is now at Ittihad, was invited by L’Equipe to give a portrait of Marquinhos, the 31-year-old central defender and captain of Paris Saint-Germain, whom he is used to seeing in the national team.

Fabinho: “Everything he brings on and off the pitch is important.”

“What he is doing is very special, especially with last season at Paris Saint-Germain: they finally won the Champions League with him as captain, after several years of trying to bring that to Paris. They did it in style. We are really happy for him. He is also the captain of the national team. He is someone with experience, who is very intelligent. Everything he brings on and off the pitch is important. I am happy for him and happy with everything he is doing.”

Fabinho: “Marquinhos is a leader at PSG and in the national team.”

We hope he will add something very special soon (the World Cup). He has somewhat become what Thiago Silva was, that is, the leader of the national team. Marquinhos is a leader at PSG and in the national team. He knows his responsibility, he knows his level and what he brings to the team. It’s good for him to have this status, but it’s not by chance, he deserves all of it. He is still at a very, very high level.”

It’s striking to see the praise Marquinhos receives from teammates or coaches who know him, while some journalists and supporters continue to claim that he is more of a problem at PSG. Both as a defender and as a captain. There is at least reason to ask questions and try to take a step back. At the very least, that would be a logical reaction.

Vídeos OneFootball

The Brazilian defender has truly established himself at PSG and in the national team, and that doesn’t happen by chance. There is a certain level of play and a mindset required. We often see him talking to his teammates before and during matches. Many players also highlight his role on a daily basis. He’s not the type to shout everywhere, nor to bring his team down after a poor performance. However, who decided that this is what makes a good captain? We see all the commotion after Ousmane Dembélé’s (28-year-old forward) media appearance in Rennes, even though it was a collective remark far from harsh.

Marquinhos deserves credit, and it’s a shame to see some people overlook his great career. We wish him the chance to win major titles, including another Champions League with PSG. In time, maybe he could be recognized as a great player and captain.

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