When Willian Pacho was asked about the number 51 on his jersey, the Ecuadorian defenders reply spoke volumes about his rise from poverty, the challenges he faced along the way, and how it has shaped the 24-year-old ParisSaint-Germain (PSG) centre-back.
"I wore that number for a long time at Independiente del Valle and then at Royal Antwerp, and I became attached to it, he said in an interview with theofficial PSG website. But the main reason behind it is related to my mother, who passed away at the age of 51. Wearing that number is a way for me to pay tribute to her, and it gives me strength in every game."
It was a simple statement, devoid of melodrama yet efficient in getting to the heart of the matter similar in style to the economy of movement that characterises Pachos football.
When journalists praise his defensive skills which earned him a man of the match (MOTM) at the 2026Champions Leaguesemi-finals Pacho can be similarly humble and down-to-earth. Without this team, I wouldnt be a great defender, he told French sports daily,LEquipe.
On Saturday night, PSGs prized centre-back is set to play his second consecutive Champions League final. Theres a lot at stake when PSG meetsArsenalfor European club footballs most important trophy. For PSG, victory at Puskas Arena would see the Parisians become only the second team afterZinedine Zidane's Real Madrid streak from 2016-18 to retain the trophy since the old European Cup was rebranded as the Champions League in 1992.
As the reigning European champions, Luis Enriques team faces Mike Artetas Arsenal, the newly crowned English champion which own one of the Champions Leagues meanest defences. But PSG comes with the assurance of defending champions with Pacho as the pillar of their defensive line.
For the kid from Quininde, a nondescript town in Ecuadors northern lowlands, its been a long journey to global football heights.
A childhood marred by violence
Pacho was born into extreme poverty near Ecuadors Pacific coast, in the province of Esmeraldas, which was plagued by violence from drug traffickers and criminal gangs. I took my first steps in football in the neighbourhood where I lived, and I learned a lot from that, he recounted. He played his first official matches for Huracan de Quininde, a local amateur club.
The turning point came during his teenage years, when Pacho was spotted by scouts from Independiente del Valle. A club in the suburbs of the capital, Quito, Independiente del Valle over the past few decades has become Ecuadors most renowned academy, whose alumni include Chelsea defender Moises Caicedo and an entire generation of players who went on to play in Europes top leagues.
Pachos coaches noticed the young players calm and composure on the field very early. At 20, the young man from Quininde crossed the Atlantic to join Royal Antwerp in Belgium. In Frankfurt, where he signed in the summer of 2023, the Bundesliga introduced him to the rest of Europe. The following summer, PSG made their move: 45 million later, Pacho became the first Ecuadorian in the clubs history.
But the signing was a gamble taken by Luis Campos, the Parisian clubs Portuguese sporting advisor, and it raised some questions at that time, according to French sports journalist Karim Bald. There was a question mark when he arrived, Bald explains. It was an expensive transfer, a player little known to the general public, with a specific need to be filled: finding someone to support Marquinhos, or even, eventually, succeed him, while Presnel Kimpembe was plagued by physical setbacks.
The best defender in the world
As the Champions League campaign unfolded last year, Pacho became increasingly indispensable. The turning point was around the match against Liverpool, in the round of 16, said Bald. Thats when he really found his place.
Read morePSG beat Liverpool at Anfield to reach Champions League semi-finals
Since then, the Pacho-Marquinhos pairing has remained unchanged. The Ecuadorian defender himself explains what this duo brings him: "Marquinhos is an incredible person. Hes supported me from day one. He sets an example with his determination to always win. The fact that he speaks Spanish has been crucial for me. He helps me understand the game, anticipate plays, and position myself well, Pacho explained in an interview with theUEFA website. The 32-year-old Brazilian, for his part, has publicly described his Ecuadorian partner as the best defender in the world.
In two seasons, Pacho has established himself as one of Enriques most reliable players; an undisputed starter and a key figure in the victory overInter Milanin the 2025 final, when he became the first Ecuadorian in history to win a Champions League trophy.
This years semifinal againstBayern Munichhighlighted the limitations of this high-pressing defence as Paris struggled. But Bald sees it differently: In their positioning, especially when playing offside traps, the two are in sync. From the stands, you can see the trust they have in each other. When theres pressure, Marquinhos rarely targets Pacho. Hes solid: hes a physically reliable guy, explained Bald.
Pacho describes Caicedo, his fellow Ecuadorian footballer, best friend and national teammate, as a beast on the field. Together, they could dazzle the world at theWorld Cup, facing the German national team or the Ivory Coasts Elephants. Before that, on Saturday night in Budapest, Willian Pacho will be looking to take down Arsenal.
(This is a translation of theoriginal in French.)
Originally published on France24
