Marquinhos (Part 1)

Marquinhos, whose full name is Marcos Aoás Corrêa, is a Brazilian footballer renowned for his role as a center-back. Born on May 14, 1994, he currently serves as the captain of Paris Saint-Germain (PSG) in the French Ligue 1 and holds the vice-captaincy for the Brazil national team.
His professional career commenced at Corinthians, where he achieved success by winning the Copa Libertadores in 2012. Marquinhos then transferred to Roma for a reported fee of €3 million after his triumph with Corinthians. During his solitary season with Roma, he displayed consistent performances, notably aiding the team in reaching the final of the Coppa Italia.
In July 2013, Marquinhos secured a move to Paris Saint-Germain for a substantial fee of €31.4 million, signing a five-year contract. His transfer marked one of the highest fees ever paid for a player under the age of 20. Initially, he faced reduced playing time following the arrival of fellow Brazilian defender David Luiz in 2014. However, Marquinhos reclaimed a pivotal role in the team's defense after Luiz's departure in 2016.


Throughout his tenure at PSG, Marquinhos has been instrumental in the club's success, contributing to eight Ligue 1 titles and twelve domestic cups. Notably, he played a key role in PSG's journey to the 2020 UEFA Champions League final. Following the departure of Thiago Silva in August 2020, Marquinhos assumed the role of captain, solidifying his leadership within the team.
On the international stage, Marquinhos made his senior debut for Brazil in 2013 and has since represented his country in various tournaments, including the Copa América and FIFA World Cup. Noteworthy achievements include winning the gold medal at the 2016 Olympics and clinching the Copa América title in 2019.


Marquinhos is widely regarded as one of the top defenders in world football, known for his tactical intelligence, defensive prowess, and leadership qualities both on and off the pitch. His impressive career trajectory has solidified his status as a respected figure in Brazilian and global football circles alike.
Marquinhos began his football journey at the young age of eight when he joined Corinthians in 2002. His talent and dedication quickly caught the attention of the club's coaches, leading to his inclusion in the senior matchday squad on 29 January 2012, at just 17 years old. Although he remained on the bench as an unused substitute in their victory over Linense, it marked the beginning of his professional career.


Marquinhos made his professional debut for Corinthians in the Campeonato Paulista on 18 February 2012, playing the full 90 minutes in a match against São Caetano. Despite his young age, he showcased maturity and skill on the pitch, earning praise for his performances. Throughout the season, he made a total of eight appearances for Corinthians in the Campeonato Paulista as the team finished atop the table in the regular season.
Following the conclusion of the state championship, Marquinhos made his debut in the Campeonato Brasileiro Série A on 20 May 2012, featuring for the full duration of the match against Fluminense. Despite the team's loss, his presence on the field demonstrated his potential and earned him valuable experience at the professional level. Over the course of the national championship, he made six appearances, further establishing himself as a promising young talent.


Additionally, Marquinhos was part of the Corinthians squad that secured victory in the 2012 Copa Libertadores Finals against Boca Juniors, although he was an unused substitute in the decisive matches. Despite his limited playing time, his contributions and presence within the squad highlighted his importance to the team's success on the continental stage.
In July 2012, Marquinhos made a significant move to Italian club Roma from Corinthians. Initially, the transfer was structured as a one-year loan deal for a fee of €1.5 million, with the option to make the move permanent for €3 million after he met certain appearance criteria. Upon joining Roma, he played under the name "Marcos" on his jersey to avoid confusion with his teammate Marquinho.


Marquinhos made his debut for Roma on 16 September, entering as a substitute in a 2–3 loss against Bologna at the Stadio Olimpico. His impressive performances quickly earned him a regular spot in the starting lineup, particularly after manager Zdeněk Zeman recognized his speed and defensive abilities. He formed a solid partnership in central defense with fellow Brazilian Leandro Castán, relegating Nicolás Burdisso to the bench.
Despite his relatively young age and limited experience in European football, Marquinhos showcased maturity and composure on the field. However, he also faced challenges, such as receiving a straight red card in a match against Milan on 22 December for denying Stephan El Shaarawy a clear goal-scoring opportunity.


Throughout his debut season with Roma, Marquinhos demonstrated his talent and versatility by featuring in 26 Serie A games and four Coppa Italia matches. He notably played the full 90 minutes in the Coppa Italia final on 26 May, albeit in a losing effort as Roma fell 0–1 to their city rivals, Lazio.
Paris Saint-Germain (PSG) later became Marquinhos's next destination, marking a significant chapter in his career progression.
On 19 July 2013, Marquinhos completed a significant move to French club Paris Saint-Germain (PSG) on a five-year contract, for a reported fee of €31.45 million. At the time, this transfer fee was notable, with various sources citing it as one of the highest fees for a teenager and among the top transfers for a defender in football history.


Marquinhos encountered some challenges during his initial days at PSG, as anomalies in his medical examination delayed his official introduction to the team. Speculation arose regarding his health, with rumors circulating about him having hepatitis, which PSG promptly refuted.
Despite the initial setbacks, Marquinhos made an impact on the pitch when given the opportunity. He scored his first professional goal for PSG on his official debut for the club on 17 September, contributing to a 4–1 victory against Olympiacos in the UEFA Champions League group stage. Just five days later, he made his Ligue 1 debut as a starter in a 1–1 draw against Monaco, showcasing his versatility and adaptability.


Marquinhos continued to impress, scoring his first league goal for PSG in a 2–0 win over Toulouse on 28 September. His goalscoring form was unexpected but welcomed by the team, especially given the absence of senior defender Thiago Silva due to injury. He further demonstrated his prowess in front of goal with another goal in the Champions League group stage match against Benfica on 2 October.
Throughout the season, Marquinhos played a crucial role in PSG's success, contributing defensively and offensively. He scored pivotal goals in important matches, including in the UEFA Champions League last 16 tie against Bayer Leverkusen and in the league fixture against Lille, which helped PSG achieve a record league points tally.

References

1.  "FIFA World Cup Russia 2018: List of Players: Brazil" (PDF). FIFA. 15 July 2018. p. 4. Archived from the original (PDF) on 11 June 2019.
2. a b "Anthony Martial: Man Utd sign Monaco forward for £36m". BBC Sport. 2 September 2015. Retrieved 8 September 2015.
3. a b "The 10 most expensive teenagers in football history". Sky Sports. 2 September 2015. Retrieved 22 March 2016.
4. a b "Mercato – PSG : Marquinhos, 3 e joueur de moins de 20 ans le plus cher !" [Transfer market – PSG: Marquinhos, 3rd most expensive under-20 player!] (in French). Le 10 Sport. 7 October 2013. Retrieved 22 March 2016.
5. a b "Alex advises Marquinhos to leave Paris Saint-Germain". FourFourTwo. 22 September 2015. Retrieved 12 November 2015.
6. a b "Thiago Silva criticises Marquinhos' agents and confirms Barcelona interest in defender". Sport. 16 February 2016. Retrieved 3 March 2016.
7. a b Johnson, Jonathan (1 September 2016). "Marquinhos to get PSG chance with Unai Emery right to sell David Luiz". ESPN. Retrieved 3 March 2017.
8. ^ "PSG segura Marquinhos e impede Corinthians de lucrar R$3,5 milhões" [PSG secure Marquinhos and stop Corinthians from earning R$3.5 million] (in Portuguese). ESPN. 3 February 2015. Retrieved 22 March 2016.
9. ^ Marques, Vítor (27 January 2012). "Tite repete escalação do Corinthians contra Linense" [Tite repeats Corinthians' lineup against Linense] (in Portuguese). Estadão. Retrieved 8 September 2015.
10. ^ Canônico, Leandro (29 January 2012). "Sheik garante ao Timão vitória sobre o Linense e os 100% no Paulistão" [Sheik guarantees the Timão victory over Linense and a 100% record in the Paulistão] (in Portuguese). Globo. Retrieved 8 September 2015.