PSG’s Pacho Aims to Cement Legacy in Champions League Final Against Arsenal
With PSG seeking to become only the second team to retain the title since the 1992 rebranding, Willian Pacho’s defensive partnership with Marquinhos will be pivotal against Arsenal’s attack.
Paris Saint-Germain defender Willian Pacho is set to face Arsenal in the Champions League final on Saturday at the Puskas Arena in Budapest. The 24-year-old Ecuadorian, who rose from poverty in Quininde to become an undisputed starter alongside Marquinhos, aims to help the reigning champions retain the trophy. A PSG victory would make them only the second team to retain the title since the 1992 rebranding, following Real Madrid’s streak from 2016-18. Pacho previously won the 2025 final with the club.
Pacho’s jersey number 51 is a tribute to his mother, who passed away at the age of 51; he wore the number at previous clubs and attached personal significance to it. French sports journalist Karim Baldé notes that Pacho’s status as an indispensable player was cemented during the round of 16 match against Liverpool. The 24-year-old Ecuadorian, who rose from poverty in Quininde to become a key figure in PSG’s defence, aims to help the club retain the trophy.
PSG, the reigning champions, seek to become only the second team to retain the title since the 1992 rebranding. Pacho, who won the 2025 final with PSG, has established himself as an undisputed starter alongside Marquinhos. The Ecuadorian defender himself explains what this duo brings him, citing Marquinhos’s support and tactical guidance as crucial to his development.
Marquinhos has publicly described Pacho as the "best defender in the world," highlighting their synchronicity in offside traps and Pacho’s reliance on Marquinhos for tactical guidance. In two seasons, Pacho has established himself as one of Luis Enrique’s most reliable players; an undisputed starter and a key figure in the victory over Inter Milan in the 2025 final, when he became the first Ecuadorian in history to win a Champions League trophy.
The article highlights Pacho’s humble demeanor and his reliance on Marquinhos for tactical guidance and positioning, noting their synchronicity in offside traps. Pacho’s best friend and national teammate, Moises Caicedo, is mentioned in the context of potential future World Cup performances. Before that, on Saturday night in Budapest, Willian Pacho will be looking to take down Arsenal.
