Marquinhos (Part 3)

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7 Apr 2024

Marquinhos (Part 3)

Marquinhos showcased his importance to Paris Saint-Germain with a crucial late equalizer against Atalanta in the UEFA Champions League quarter-finals. His goal sparked a dramatic comeback, ultimately leading PSG to a 2–1 victory and securing their place in the semi-finals.
Continuing his impressive form, Marquinhos scored again on 18 August in the semi-final match against RB Leipzig, helping PSG secure a convincing 3–0 win and advance to the Champions League final for the first time in the club's history. However, despite his efforts, PSG narrowly lost 1–0 to Bayern Munich in the final on 23 August.

In recognition of his leadership qualities and contributions on the field, Marquinhos was appointed as PSG's club captain on 15 September 2020, taking over the role from Thiago Silva. He immediately showcased his leadership by leading by example, scoring his first goal of the season in a match against Nice just five days later.
Marquinhos continued to play a pivotal role for PSG throughout the season, demonstrating his versatility and defensive prowess. He notably scored the second goal in PSG's 3–1 victory over Manchester United in the UEFA Champions League group stage on 2 December.
In January 2021, Marquinhos reached a significant milestone in his PSG career, making his 300th appearance for the club in a 2–1 victory over Marseille in the Trophée des Champions. This achievement also saw him enter PSG's top ten appearance makers of all time, further solidifying his status as a club legend.

Marquinhos demonstrated his talent and commitment to the Brazilian national team from a young age, representing his country at various youth levels. He played a crucial role in Brazil's success at the 2011 South American Under-17 Football Championship, contributing to their victory and qualification for the Under-17 World Cup later that year. During the World Cup, Marquinhos was a consistent performer, playing every minute except for one match as Brazil finished fourth in Mexico.
In October 2013, Marquinhos, who holds dual Portuguese and Brazilian nationality, expressed openness to representing the Portugal national team. However, shortly after, he received his first call-up for the Brazil senior team from manager Luiz Felipe Scolari for friendly matches against Honduras and Chile. Marquinhos made his debut for Brazil against Honduras, showcasing his talent during his 20-minute appearance in a commanding 5–0 victory.

Marquinhos continued to impress on the international stage, representing Brazil Under-21 at the 2014 Toulon Tournament. He played a pivotal role throughout the tournament, featuring in all five matches as Brazil emerged victorious. His standout performance included scoring a crucial goal in the final against France, helping Brazil secure a 5–2 win and clinch the tournament title. After missing out on the 2014 FIFA World Cup, Marquinhos made a return to the Brazilian national team under the management of Dunga in September 2014. He featured in friendly matches against Colombia and Ecuador in Miami, marking his first start against the latter opponent. This marked his reintroduction to the senior squad after a period of absence.
Marquinhos was subsequently included in the Brazilian squad for the 2015 Copa América in Chile, marking his debut in a major international tournament. Although he only made one appearance during the tournament, coming on as a substitute in Brazil's final group match against Venezuela, his contribution helped secure a crucial victory that propelled Brazil into the quarter-finals as group winners.

In 2016, Marquinhos was once again named in the Brazilian squad, this time for the Copa América Centenario held in the United States. Despite missing his Paris Saint-Germain defensive partners Thiago Silva and David Luiz, Marquinhos featured in the first two group stage matches. However, his team's tournament journey was cut short after a loss to Peru in the final group game, which saw Brazil eliminated from the competition.
Later that same year, Marquinhos was part of the Brazilian squad for the Olympic tournament held in Rio de Janeiro. He played a significant role in the semi-final against Honduras, scoring a goal in a comprehensive 6–0 victory for Brazil as they advanced to the final.

Marquinhos had the opportunity to captain the Brazilian national team for the first time on October 10, 2017, in a significant 3–0 victory over Chile at Allianz Parque in his hometown. This match not only saw Marquinhos leading the team but also concluded Chile's hopes of qualifying for the 2018 FIFA World Cup, as Brazil had already secured their spot in the tournament.
In May 2018, Marquinhos was named in manager Tite's final 23-man squad for the 2018 FIFA World Cup held in Russia. He joined his club teammates Thiago Silva and Neymar in representing Brazil on the world stage. During this tournament, Marquinhos scored his first international goal on September 11, 2018, contributing to Brazil's commanding 5–0 victory over El Salvador in a friendly match.

Continuing his international success, Marquinhos was included in Brazil's 23-man squad for the 2019 Copa América, which took place on home soil. In the semi-final clash against Argentina on July 2, 2019, Marquinhos played a crucial role, tasked with marking Lionel Messi despite suffering from illness. Despite the challenge, he helped Brazil secure a 2–0 victory over their arch-rivals. Subsequently, Marquinhos started in Brazil's triumph in the final against Peru on July 7, 2019, at the iconic Maracanã Stadium.
On October 9, 2020, Marquinhos achieved another milestone by scoring his first competitive goal for Brazil during the 2022 FIFA World Cup qualification match against Bolivia. His goal, a headed effort, opened the scoring in Brazil's commanding 5–0 victory at Corinthians' ground. The following month, he reached the milestone of earning his 50th cap for the national team in another World Cup qualifier against Venezuela.

Marquinhos showcased his scoring ability once again, netting Brazil's opening goal in their first group stage match of the 2021 Copa América. Brazil secured a convincing 3–0 victory against Venezuela in that encounter. However, in the final on July 10, Marquinhos started in Brazil's narrow 1–0 defeat to their arch-rivals Argentina.
Looking ahead to the 2022 FIFA World Cup, Marquinhos was named in Brazil's squad for the tournament. However, in Brazil's quarter-final match against Croatia, Marquinhos faced a challenging moment during the penalty shootout. As Brazil and Croatia ended the match in a 1–1 draw, Marquinhos stepped up as their fourth kicker in the penalty shootout. Unfortunately, his attempt struck the goalpost, contributing to Brazil's eventual loss in the shootout, ending their World Cup journey.