By Joao Cunha
In the 2007 January transfer window, a relatively unknown 18-year old signed for Real Madrid from Fluminense to try to replace the legendary left-back Roberto Carlos. Roberto Carlos was widely considered the best left-back on the planet when he played for Real, but arguarbly the greatest left-back of all-time. 2007 would be the iconic left-back’s final season at Real and he was instrumental in Real’s 30th La Liga title scoring the winner in a 3-2 win at Recreativo that was the differnce between Real winning and losing the league. That goal kept Real atop the table with three rounds left to go and they would hold on to win the league. The young backup was Marcelo who played a few games but mostly watched Real’s title win from the bench. 2007 saw Marcelo win his first trophy for Real Madrid, although he didn’t make a big contribution he saw what the culture of Real Madrid was all about. Marcelo knew that season to be a great Real player you not only need to play well individually but help your team win titles. As Roberto Carlos left the club in the summer of 2007, it was Marcelo’s job to replace him. A hard task especially as he had an uncertain beginning.
It’s easy to look back and say that everyone knew Marcelo would be a legend. After all he had all the offensive skills even at an early age to contribute. However the start of his Real career was full of doubts and inconsistent performances. Real signed veteran left-back Gabriel Heinze to compete with Marcelo and Heinze was the starting left-back for the majority of games in the 2007-08 season. Marcelo did play in a decent amount of games especially down the stretch of the season where Real had injuries and suspesnions. His talent offensively became apparent late in the 2008 season after an excellent performance in the 4-1 win against Barcelona. He ran the Barca defenders ragged that day and nearly scored after his strike was somehow saved by Valdes. He ended the 2008 season as a starter down the stretch and he won another La Liga title, this time playing a far more significant role in the victory. In the 2008-09 he was expected to take a jump and become the undisputed starter but that didn’t happen. Marcelo due to injuries started a lot of games in the beginning of the season as left-back but his defensive frailties were routinely exposed and Real conceded a lot of goals. His worst peformance came in a 4-3 home loss to Sevilla, where the Sevilla wingers Capel and Renato basically created the bulk of the four goals from Marcelo’s side. Juande Ramos who took over from the fired Bernd Schuster benched Marcelo for the more experienced Heinze at left-back. Marcelo then became an impact sub coming off the bench as a winger and his offensive peformances were so good, he even started several games. In this new role he even scored 4 goals in the laague but Real fell short of winning major trophies that season only winning the Spanish Supercup. Although Marcelo was great offensively, he was limited defensively and was seen at this time as a liabity at left-back. His saving grace was that Heinze was a total disaster at that position and left the club in the summer. Marcelo would have another chance to take his position.
In 2009-10 new manager Manuel Pelligrini rotated Marcelo and new signing Arbeloa at left-back. Marcelo would typically play against lesser teams where his offensive skills would outweigh his defensive shortcomings, while Arbeloa would be used in bigger games. Even in bigger games Marcelo was still used as a winger and he made the most appearances of any season in his Real career with 43 overall, and 35 in La Liga. He contributed with a lot more assists with the arrival of superstar Cristiano Ronaldo and he still scored four goals. In 2010 he was an established player at Real, but he needed someone to believe in him as a left-back. That person would be Jose Mourinho.
Jose Mourinho replaced Manuel Pelligrini after Pelligrini failed to win a trophy in 2010. Jose Mourinho came in to Real with a reputation as a defensive manager and many speculated that Marcelo would never play as a left-back under him. Yet Mourinho immediately backed Marcelo and after a few games Marcelo was the outright starter at left-back for the first time in his Real career. Marcelo relishing this chance took his oppurtunity well and delivered the best season of his career. With Carvalho and Pepe behind him, Marcelo could roam forward and have the defensive protection to cover for his runs. In addition his overall defensive positional awareness improved under Mourinho, making him a better defender. He had an even better year in terms of assists and scored three goals from left-back. He scored the most important goal of his Real career at that point a game winning goal to help Real beat Lyon 3-0 and reach the Champions League quarter-finals for the first time in 7 years. It is stunning for some younger fans but Real had a 6-year period where they couldn’t reach a Champions League quarter-final, Marcelo’s goal changed that and since then Real have reached 10 semi-ifnals in 12 seasons. Marcelo also provided the most important moment of his Real career as his one-two with Di Maria allowed the winger to cross into Cristiano Ronaldo’s header that beat Barca in the Copa del Rey final 1-0. It was Real’s first trophy in three years and Marcelo was a critical part of it. Although Real would win no other titles as Barca won the league and the Champions League in 2011, Marcelo and Real Madrid had a bright future together.
in 2011-2012, Real won the league with ease finshing nine points ahead of Barcelona. Marcelo was widely considered the best left-back in the world after another fantastic season having had over 10 assists and scoring 3 goals. He was voted into the UEFA team of the year for the first time in 2011 and the FIFA team of the year in 2012. He was a loveable superstar and the ideal heir to Roberto Carlos, as he was exciting fans with his unique driblling and crossing abilities. He was in his prime but things soured for Marcelo in 2012-13. Marcelo started the season as a starter and helped Real win another trophy the Spanis Super Cyp beating Barca on the away goals rule. He scored his only goal of the season to help Real overturn a deficit and beat Manchester City 3-2 in the group stages of the Champions League. But injuries and Fabio Contreao’s excellent form saw him spend the majority of the season on the bench or as a spot-starter. Real failed to win any more trophies that season and Mourinho left the club after falling out with his players. Things at this point weren’t looking great for Real Madrid and Marcelo but Ancelotti’s arrival changed everything.
Ancelotti gave Marcelo his starting role back initially and Marcelo responded well, regaining his form and delivering a lot of assists and linking up well offensively. But in the bigger games in the second-half of the season, Ancelotti started Contreao and he responded well helping Real win the Copa del Rey with an “assist” to Bale’s iconic goal in the final and shutting down Bayern to help Real reach their first Champions League final in 12 years. Marcelo played a lot of league games and although offensively he was still great, Ancelotti felt it was best for the team if Contreao started the Champions League final. Real failed to win La Liga so this was their chance to make their season a legendary one by finally winning the fabeled “Decima” aka the tenth Champions Le4ague title. Real fell behind 1-0 with a bizzare mistake from Iker Casillas and it looked it wouldn’t be Rea;’s day. Contreao had an off day and was subbed off for Marcelo who made an instant impact. He earned corners, crossed balls in the box, broke Atletico’s iines with his dribbling. Late on in the geme it seemed like only Marcelo and Di Maria could break through the Atletico defense. In the 93rd minute after a succession of corners which Marcelo helped win. Luka Modric delivered the crosss and Sergio Ramos headed the ball past a despairing Courtois. Real were saved and Marcelo was a key reason why. In extra-time, Bale scored to make it 2-1 after Di Maria’s great shot was saved by Courtois. But many forger that Real suffered right after that goal, as Casillas made anohter mistake and Tiago blasted his shot over the bar. Atletico still had life, they were a moment away from sending the game into penalties. Marcelo knowing this took a simple pass by Cristiano Ronadlo dribbled past a few players and hit a powerful shot through Courtois and into the net. The man who was benched in the final, who had been questioned about him being a liablity, who had many questioning if he could replace the great Roberto Carlos couldn’t do, he had scored in a Champions League final. Although Cristiano Ronaldo would another goal to make the scoreline 4-1, Marcelo’s impact and goal sealed the 10th Champions League for Real Madrid. It was the final turning point in Marcelo’s Real career from this point forward he was the undisputed starter for the next 5 years.
Real Madrid continued to win trophies with Marcelo having great seasons having averaged around 11 assists a season froom 2013-14 to 2017-18 with his best season coming in 2016-17 when he had 14 assists. In 2014-15 Marcelo helped Real win the UEFA Super Cup and Club World Cup. In 2015-16, Zidane arrived mid-season and Marcelo srarted another Champions League final where he scored a key penalty in the shootout where Real would defeat 5-3 on penalties to win their 11th Champions League. In 2016-17, Real would win another UEFA Super Cup, Club World Cup, and would win their first La Liga title sicne 2017, There’s an argument to be made that Marcelo had not only hjis best season in 2016-17 but he might have Been Real’s most consistent player. His impact was most obvious in the second-leg of the Champions League quarter-final against Bayern where his improved defenisve postioning saved two balls off the line and he set up Cristiano Ronaldo’s game clinching goal with a remarkable run. In the league his best game was at home to Valencia where his 84th minute goal dragged Real into a 2-1 win which eventually led to their 33rd league title. In the 2017 Champions League final, Marcelo played a fantastic game and it was his dribble and cross that led to Real’s fourth goal in the 4-1 win. Real Madrid had been the first club in the Champions League era to win back to back titles and Marcelo was a vital part of that sucesss. In 2017-18, Marcelo helped Real win the Spanish Supercup by providing the cross that led to Pique’s own goal in the first-leg and the cross that led to Benzema’s goal in the second-leg. He also won the UEFA Super Cup and Club World Cup. Marcelo had a very inconisistent league season as Real finished 3rd in La Liga, and after a shock exit to Leganes in the Copa del Rey, the season was on the brink. Only the Champions League was left for Real and Marcelo brought his best. Against PSG Marcelo was brilliant and scored the third goal in Real’s 3-1 home win, and after a solid 2-1 road win in Paris Marcelo and Real advanced to the quarter-ifnals. In the quarter-tinals Real destroyed Juventus 3-0 in a game that is known for Cristiano Ronaldo’s bicycle kick and his two goal performance. However Marcelo scored the key third goal in the tie, a detail that would be vital for Real Madrid in the tie. In the second-;eg Real fell behind 3-0 and if not Marcelo’s goal, Real regardless of the late penalty goal by Cristiano would have been eliminated. Cristiano Ronaldo’s late penalty saved Real Madrid and they were through to the semis. Real would face Bayern and although Real conceded first, a stunning strike by Marcelo got Real Madrid level. Real went on to win the game 2-1, and in the second-leg Marcelo’s perfect cross allowed Benzema to score one of his two clutch goals as Real held on to a 2-2 draw to reach another Champions League final. In the buildup a lot was made of Marcelo being poor defensively and that he was a liability for Real Madrid. The always humble English press proclaimed that Liverpool would exploit Marcelo and Liverpool would win the final. None of those two things happened. Marcelo had a fantastic game bombing forward at will, especially in the second-half. His cross led to Gareth Bale’s iconic bicycle kick goal and his cross field ball led to Bale’s second goal. Real went on to win the final 3-1 and Marcelo the “liablity” had managed two assists on the night. One more great season under his belt and he made the FIFA team of the year from 2015 to 2019 as he was during a large chunk of those years the world’d best left-back. He also made the UEFA team of the year in 2017 and 2018, and for Brazil won the Confederations Cup and made the World Cup all-star team in 2014 and 2018. By 2018-19, Marcelo was already considered one of the best left-backs ever and although he didn’t have a great season he still helped Real win the Club World Cup finsihing the tournament with 2 assists. He still scored two goals but by the end of 2019, injuries and poor from saw him benched. When Zidane returned to the club he insisted on Marcelo but after a 3-0 loss to PSG in the 2019-20 Champions League benched Marcelo in favor of Mendy. Although Marcelo in the second-half of the season regained some form and started the clasico against Barca. His tackle on Messi when the game was 1-0 to Real saved a certain goal and he helped Real win that game 2-0. In the final 11 games of the La Liga season, Real won 10 of them and Marcelo scored against Eibar, had some assists and earned the key penalty against BIlbao in which Sergio Ramos converted. Real Madid overtunred a two point deficit into a five-point lead and won the league title in 2020 in addtion to the Spanish Supercup. In 2020-21 Real Madrid went trophyless and Marcelo’s offensive abiliies finally began to decline, at the end he was benched for Miguel Gutirrez. Zidane left the club after the season and Anceltotti retuened as manager, but 2021-22 would end up being Marcelo’s last dance at Real Madrid.
2021-22 was Marcelo’s final season as his contract wasn’t renewed, and he mostly came off the bench and finished the season with two assists, one to Benzema in a 3-0 win against Mallorca and the other to Rodrygo in a 4-0 win against Espanyol. The second assist was special, Real needed to win to clinch the league and Marcelo having his last great game for the club set up Rodrygo with an exccelent cross with the young Brazilain taking a powerful shot past Diego Lopez. Marcelo cried after that goal as he knew it meant potentially his last major contribution to a Real Madrid title. Real lifted the title with Marcelo becoming the first non-Spanish captain to lift La Liga. Earlier in the season, he came in as a late sub in the Spanish Supercup final win over Bilbao to lift his first trophy as captain. But the best was yet to come. Real Madrid reached the Champions League final and althorugh Marcelo didn’t play much he had a priceless contribution against Chelsea. Chelsea were 15 minutes from advancing to the semi-finals, Real needed a goal and Ferland Mendy had a poor game. Marcelo came in for the last time in meaningful Champions League night and did himself proud. He earned free-kicks, dribbled past defenders, kept the ball well, and defended with all his heaert. He gave everything that night and when Rodrygo and Vinicus Junior got the goals Real needed to advamce. Marcelo’s leadership kept everuthing calm. He guided the younger players and was committed to getting Real over the line, and when the final whistle blew he roared with joy. Marcelo even being at the end of his Real career helped the club of his life in a big game. Real used the momentum against Chelsea and beat City in another epic tie and reached the Champions League. Just like in 2018, the never arrogant English media proclaimed that Liverpool would “blow Real away” and the only thing Liverpool blew away was another chance at a trophy. Real beat Liverpool 1-0 behind a goal by another young oft-criticized Brazilian Viniciius Junior lifted their 14th Champions League. It would be Marcelo’s last trophy for Real Madrid, his 25th title of his remarkable career. A career that saw him start with doubts and finish as the greatest left-back in Real’s history. But he is also the most successful player in Real’s history, no player in Real’s great history has won more silverware. His haul of 26 trophies is a testament to how he contributed to a winning enviroment. A player doesn’t just need to score or make big saves to contribute, but be an example to yoing players. You must be willing to handle being benched and must fight for your place. You cannot take things for granted and must love fighting for your club. Marcelo represents all the good things about a professional sportsman and he is the symbol of the club for the last 15 years. Very few wore the white shirt with as much pride as Marcelo, and none of them were as happy as he was.
As a Real Madrid fan for 15 years, I actually became a Real Madrid fan around the same time Marcelo arrived at the club. Marcelo’s the last symbol of the La Liga de las remontadas back in 2007. It is fittingvf that he should end his career with the Champions League of remontadas. I saw him grow up as I grew up and for me there are very few people in sports I like as much as Marcelo, I saw him grow up before my eyes, and I saw him become the best player maybe of all time at his position. He took over from a legend and never complained about it, did his job and in my opinion surpassed Roberto Carlos. The way he handled controversies, benchings, and chaos was exemplary. His status as a legendary Real Madrid player is unquestioned. But as good as he was as a player, he is and always will be a better person. He will leave Real Madrid but Real Madrid will never forget him, the fans will always love him, and football is abetter sport for his presence. Thanks for the memories Marcelo!
List of titles Marcelo won at Real Madrid:
6 La Liga titles: (2006-07, 2007-08, 2011-12, 2016-17, 2019-20, 2021-22)
2 C0pa del Rey titles: (2010-11. 2013-14)
5 Spanish Supercups (2008, 2012, 2017, 2019-20, 2021-22)
3 UEFA Super Cups (2014, 2016, 2017)
4 FIFA Club World Cups (2014, 2016. 2017. 2018)
5 UEFA Champions League titles (2013-14, 2015-16. 2016-17. 2017-18, 2021-22)
25 trophies total.
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