The armband does it right.
Seeing Marquinhos lift his first captain's trophy on the evening of his 300th game in the PSG jersey is a happy coincidence.
On Wednesday in Lens, his joy and pride in brandishing the Champions Trophy first sounded like a fair reward.
Symbolic, the gesture also magnified the obvious: since the start of the season, Marqui walks, Marqui scores, Marqui mate, above all, a bit of everything and everyone.
The fate like the insolent who would consider cracking the "wall" or climbing the rampart that it forms behind or in the midfield with Kimpembe, Diallo, Herrera or whoever else it is.
Because if Kylian Mbappé is at the top of the Ligue 1 scorers' standings, Navas gives serious help in the goals, the player impact, the real one, of this start of the season at PSG is undoubtedly the Marquis de Sao Paulo.
Two goals when he's on the pitch
The numbers speak for themselves.
In Ligue 1, Paris played 11 games with its captain.
He lost none (9 wins, 2 draws) and conceded only two goals, against Angers (6-1) and Saint-Etienne (1-1).
In his absence, due to Covid-19, adductor pain or hip pain, PSG bowed four times.
In eight league games played without its captain (4 defeats, 1 draw, 3 wins), the best defense in Ligue 1 has mostly conceded nine of the eleven goals conceded since the start of the season.
"It doesn't surprise me," assures former Parisian defender Jean-Marc Pilorget.
If I were a coach, Marquinhos would be the first I would put on the scoresheet.
It's obvious, even at the time of Thiago Silva, it was the best of all.
He's technically reliable, smart in the game, good on the man, and unlike a lot of center-backs he's toned and doesn't lack for speed.
Let's be clear, I'm a fan of this boy!
"
The record holder of capes in the Parisian jersey (435) is not the only one.
Before being thanked, Thomas Tuchel never stopped reminding us that the Olympic champion was “the heart and soul” of his team.
In the stands, when they were full, the spectators of the Park have long made him one of their favorite charges.
And in the locker room, the former AS Rome is also unanimous for his sense of dialogue and his professionalism.
Because like his predecessor Thiago Silva, the new “flame captain” leaves nothing to chance.
"The best defender in Brazil, one of the very best in the world"
“Marquinhos personifies the change in mentality of Brazilian players, assures Joao Henrique, specialist in auriverde football for UOL.
Traditionally, the Brazilian footballer in Europe is single, does not like the cold, enjoys partying, is not always super professional and is only passing through.
Him, it's the opposite, he has an irreproachable hygiene of life, is very family, speaks French perfectly, lives like a Parisian and works for the long term.
This is also what explains why he is today the best defender in Brazil, one of the very best in the world.
"
No surprise therefore to see the 26-year-old defender (with Loïc Perrin and Layvin Kurzawa), the most effective defender in Ligue 1 against goal (15 goals) since his arrival in 2013. As the PSG website points out, only Sergio Ramos and Gerard Pique (9 goals) did better than him (7 goals) on the European scene.
Records that the Brazilian, under contract until 2024, still has plenty of time to break.
After seven years of presence in the capital, even that of the number of capes, held by Jean-Marc Pilorget, seems within reach.
“I admit that if some had passed me, that would have made me ch…, Pilorget laughs.
But certainly not him.
"
