Luis Henrique: the Brazilian lighting up Marseille under Roberto De Zerbi | Ligue 1

When Luis Henrique signed for Botafogo three years ago, the club’s owner – who also owns Lyon – cracked a joke at his unveiling. “He spent a bit of time playing for a small, small team in France called Olympique de Marseille,” said the American businessman. “Those of you from Lyon, I hope you’ll enjoy the joke.” Lyon were not laughing last weekend, though. Henrique has returned to the Vélodrome and it was his late volleyed goal that gave Marseille a 3-2 win over their fierce rivals in the Choc des Olympiques.

It was Henrique’s ninth goal of the season, a remarkable achievement given he had only scored eight in his previous four seasons. The 23-year-old has racked up 15 goal contributions this season, which puts him among the top five most decisive Brazilians in Europe’s top five leagues, below Vinicius Junior, Raphinha, and Rodrygo, but above internationals such as Gabriel Martinelli and João Pedro.

“To be among those players is important for me and my career,” says Henrique. “I am very happy about that. I want to keep at the top with those players. I watch them and I want to be like them too.” Does he think about a call-up to the Seleção so he can join them? “Of course, and I hope to get one. It is a dream. When the moment comes, I have to be ready.”

If he does make it, he will have taken the long road. Henrique joined Marseille from Botafogo in 2020 at the age of 18 but he failed to establish himself in France, scoring just one goal in 49 matches. He returned to Botafogo in the summer of 2022 on an 18-month loan. The Brazilian club were obliged to make the move permanent if he played 50% of their matches but he didn’t meet the required minutes. The loan deal that was supposed to resurrect his fledgling career failed, so he trudged back to France last January with his career at a crossroads.

Henrique was a rare bright spark in a difficult campaign for the club last season. Gennaro Gattuso’s time at the club was short and ill-fated, but the Italian did at least succeed where others failed: he began to unlock Henrique’s raw potential. “I never had doubts about succeeding at Marseille,” says Henrique. “I always just tried to stay fully focused. The moment came and I was ready for it.” The true moment was when Roberto De Zerbi arrived at the club last summer. The former Brighton manager has helped Henrique become one of the most exciting and efficient forwards in Ligue 1.

“I didn’t necessarily expect to have the start to the season that I’ve had but, with De Zerbi arriving and then having a great pre-season, that gave me a lot of confidence,” says Henrique, who says he has a “father-son relationship” with his manager. “He is like that with all the players – all of the players in the squad will tell you the same thing as me.” The arrival of Pierre-Emile Højbjerg from Tottenham has also been pivotal. “He is always talking to me, giving me confidence, telling me to be calm when playing and to be at ease. That helps me a lot.”

Earlier in the season, Marseille struggled to be “at ease” in their own stadium, with certain players struggling to replicate their away performances at the Vélodrome. Henrique, who has four goals at home this season, was something of an exception to the rule. Results have picked up recently, though, with Marseille unbeaten at home since early November.

“It is a stadium with an intense atmosphere,” says Henrique. “The fans have high expectations. At the start, it was hard for the players to adapt. Now, we have managed to reverse the trend. I managed to use this pressure in a positive way. I have changed my mentality when I step on the pitch and use it as a strength. I’ve always wanted to make the fans proud and light up the stadium.”

Marseille are clear favourites to finish second in Ligue 1 and return to the Champions League. That is the bare minimum for Henrique. “We have to be there. It is a famous club that should be at the highest level.” Marseille are 10 points behind league leaders PSG, but Henrique is not throwing in the towel yet. “We will go after the Champions League and after the title too, if it is possible. We will try to win the league and we have to believe until the end. PSG are big favourites but they have lost matches too.”

Henrique says playing in the Champions League would also be “important for his career”. He hopes to do it with Marseille, with whom he is under contract until 2028, but his rise has attracted attention from Premier League sides. “I’m in the moment at Marseille and my head is here,” he says. “I love being with the club and being at a top level, and that’s what I’m thinking about. After that, we’ll see; I have personal dreams.”

From being at a crossroads just a year ago to becoming one of Brazil’s brightest forwards, Henrique is on the road to accomplishing his dreams at Marseille.

Talking points

PSG are in a league of their own in France this year. “PSG have never been as strong. We can’t lie, they are a bit above us and they’ve proven it again,” said Monaco captain Denis Zakaria after a 4-1 humbling at the Parc des Princes. Ousmane Dembélé found the net again, scoring his 16th goal of the calendar year in all competitions. Given we are only at the start of February, these are astonishing numbers for a player whose quality in front of goal has always been questioned.

The victory, which included a first goal for Khivcha Kvaratskhelia, was preceded by a ceremony in which contract extensions for Luis Enrique, Nuno Mendes, Achraf Hakimi and Vitinha were all confirmed. With the futures of the leading cast – bar sporting director Luís Campos – secured, this version of the team looks ominous. “It is the best version of PSG that I have seen,” said Monaco manager Adi Hütter. “They are serious candidates to win the Champions League. They are maybe the best team in Europe at the moment.” If they are, they did not show it in the group stage of the competition, but they are unmatched in France and are on course for a domestic double and an invincible season.

PSG’s runway has very much been cleared in the Coupe de France. Monaco, Marseille, Lyon and Lens were already out before the round of 16, and there were further big-name casualties in midweek. Lille were dumped out by Ligue 2 high-fliers Dunkerque on penalties; Nice lost in the dying second against fourth-tier side Stade Briochin; and Strasbourg came unstuck against Angers. It means there are only four Ligue 1 sides in the quarter-finals: Angers, Reims, Brest and PSG. It isn’t a case of the big boys not taking the cup seriously as they have fielded strong sides against lower-tier opposition. After beating Lens in the opening round, PSG have had an easy run, avoiding any other Ligue 1 or Ligue 2 sides and that will continue as they face giant killers Stade Briochin in the quarters. Brest are the largest obstacle in Les Parisiens’ way to consecutive Coupe de France triumphs.