Paris Saint-Germain captain Marquinhos has paid an emotional tribute to five former PSG stars who were unable to win the Champions League during their time at the club, following the team's historic triumph on Saturday night.
The Brazilian defender led Luis Enrique's side to their first-ever Champions League title with a commanding 5-0 victory over Inter Milan in Munich, ending the club's long wait for European glory.
In his post-match comments, Marquinhos, who has been with PSG for 12 years, specifically mentioned Thiago Silva, Lucas Moura, Zlatan Ibrahimović, Edinson Cavani, and Angel Di María as former teammates who deserved but never achieved Champions League success with the Parisian club.
"It's a mix of joy, of all the emotions we have spent together. I have suffered but I have grown up with this team," Marquinhos said, as quoted by Reuters. "I think of all the players who have come through and not succeeded. My idol Thiago, Lucas, Zlatan, Cavani, Di Maria."
He added: "So many players who have come through here who deserved this and didn't succeed. Now we are here and we are bringing it home. I'm thinking of all the supporters who have been with us, those at the Parc and those around the world."
A Dream Fulfilled After Years of Struggle
The PSG captain described the victory as the best day of his life, highlighting the significance of the achievement after more than a decade of challenges at the club.
"This is the best day of my life. My family have been with me and have been through this with me," he continued. "When we arrived, nobody believed we could go this far. It is been 12 years of hardship and suffering."
The triumph marks a watershed moment for PSG, who have invested heavily in star players over the years in pursuit of Champions League glory. Despite previous near misses, including a final appearance in 2020, Saturday's comprehensive victory finally delivered the trophy that had eluded the French champions.
Reports indicate that celebrations in Paris following the victory led to hundreds of arrests as fans took to the streets to mark the historic achievement.
