Milestone Night in Paris: Marquinhos Battles Tottenham in PSG’s 500th Match

Marquinhos poised for 500th PSG appearance against Tottenham

The Brazilian captain of Paris Saint-Germain, Marquinhos, is set to play his 500th match for the club when PSG welcome Tottenham Hotspur to the Parc des Princes on Wednesday, a key fixture in the UEFA Champions League group stage.

Coach Luis Enrique has spoken of his hopes that the 31-year-old can enjoy many more seasons at the club, underscoring the legendary status of a player who shapes PSG’s defense and leadership on and off the pitch.

Marquinhos started the season as a key figure but sat on the bench in PSG’s 3-0 victory over Le Havre last weekend. If he recovers fully from a recent issue, he is expected to start in what many will view as a historic night for the club.

Enrique reminded reporters that if Marquinhos is ready to go, this will be his 500th appearance—an achievement described by the coach as “astonishing” and crucial for the team’s spine and culture.

Enrique added that Marquinhos is a leader who has taken a distinctive path—“a different player, a true captain, important for us”—and he hopes to continue alongside him for many years more.

There is also speculation that Ousmane Dembélé, a Ballon d’Or caliber talent, might be available for Tottenham’s visit, though Enrique intends to be cautious about rushing him back after a calf injury sustained before the international break.

“We’ll see tomorrow; if there is no problem, he will be among the squad,” Enrique said. “Every time a player returns from injury, it’s tough to manage. Of course, we’ll be more attentive than usual.”

The Wednesday match will mirror the Europa Conference League? No—rather, it echoes the European Super Cup showdown from August, where PSG defeated Tottenham on penalties after a 2-2 draw.

UEFA Decision

UEFA has imposed a mandatory stance ahead of the clash, with Tottenham visiting Paris Saint-Germain at the Parc des Princes in the fifth matchday of the group stage. As things stand, Randal Kolo Muani could feature for Tottenham against his parent club despite being on loan, according to French newspaper L’Equipe.

According to L’Equipe, there is no clause in the 26-year-old France international’s loan agreement that would stop him from playing against PSG. The report notes some leagues allow clauses in loan deals with the original club, but UEFA prohibits such clauses when two clubs compete in continental competitions, meaning Kolo Muani can face PSG. Muani joined Tottenham on loan from PSG on the final day of the summer transfer window, after a stint with Juventus last season on loan, and had featured in ten matches for Spurs before an injury-related return to fitness concerns.

Muani left PSG after a big-money transfer, but the move has yielded limited impact so far, with 11 goals in 54 PSG appearances, then 10 in 22 for Juventus, and yet to leave a mark for Spurs in nine appearances. He still has the potential to influence the fixture if he is fully fit.

European Journey

In a separate thread, PSG and Tottenham arrive at the match with memories of positive European nights, and the German referee Felix Zwayer will handle the tie. Zwayer previously oversaw the Europa League final between Tottenham and Manchester United and has a long record across Europe’s top competitions, including assignments that featured PSG against Arsenal, Napoli, and other heavyweights in recent years.

Zwayer’s experience is highlighted by recent matches in which he presided over high-stakes European clashes, reinforcing why he was chosen for this clash as PSG strives to move beyond a mid-season stumble against Bayern Munich.

From a continental perspective, PSG have started their campaign with four continental wins after lifting the European Super Cup outside of the league, beating Tottenham on penalties after a 2-2 draw. In the Champions League proper, PSG kicked off with three straight wins—hammering Atalanta 4-0 at home, beating Barcelona 2-1 in Montjuïc, and crushing Bayer Leverkusen 7-2 in Germany—before succumbing 1-2 to Bayern Munich in the fourth round.

PSG currently sit fifth in the group with nine points, three wins and one loss; Tottenham sit on eight points, occupying tenth after victories over Villarreal and Copenhagen and draws with Bodø/Glimt and Monaco.

European Track Record

Meanwhile, PSG have navigated five European matches this season, securing four wins including the Super Cup triumph over Tottenham on penalties after a dramatic 2-2 finish. The clash also serves as a reminder of the depth of European competition this season and the stakes involved for both clubs as they chase progression in Europe.

Punchline time: If Marquinhos can make 500 appearances, maybe we should start counting how many memes he’s defended against on social media. Punchline two: In football, 500 looks like a lot—until you realize it’s just the number of times your fans pretend the referee is a magician who never loses control of the spellbook.