Marquinhos surprised by unfamiliar French phrase after PSG win
Paris Saint-Germain captain Marquinhos was left bemused by an unfamiliar French idiom following his side's routine 3-0 Ligue 1 victory over Nantes at the Parc des Princes. The Brazilian defender, who has played in France since his arrival from Roma in 2013, was conducting a post-match interview when a journalist used the phrase 'un petit matelas,' or 'a little mattress,' in reference to the club's cushion in the title race. Marquinhos responded with surprise, stating he had never heard the expression in his 13 years in the country.
The incident, captured on video and shared by French magazine So Foot, highlights the occasional linguistic hurdles that remain for the long-serving defender, despite his deep integration into life at PSG and in Paris. Marquinhos is reportedly in the process of obtaining French citizenship, a testament to his commitment to his adopted home. His confusion over the colloquialism, however, served as a light-hearted reminder of the nuances that can still escape even the most settled of expatriates.
According to reports in France, the phrase 'un petit matelas' is used informally to describe a comfortable lead or a safety net in a competitive context. Marquinhos's genuine puzzlement at the term provided a human moment following a straightforward professional performance on the pitch, where goals from Kylian Mbappé and two others sealed the points for the reigning champions.
The 30-year-old centre-back has been a mainstay for PSG for over a decade, making over 430 appearances and winning numerous domestic titles. His leadership and consistency have made him a fan favourite and a symbol of the club's modern era. This season, he has continued to be a key figure under manager Luis Enrique as PSG pursue a domestic double and aim to progress further in the Champions League.
The linguistic exchange also recalled Marquinhos's own inadvertent contribution to French political slang. Several years ago, after a Champions League match, he used the word 'rigolade' – meaning a joke or something laughable – to describe a fixture. The phrase was later repeated by French President Emmanuel Macron, embedding a piece of football parlance into a wider cultural conversation. While 'un petit matelas' may not achieve similar fame, the moment underscores the ongoing cultural exchange between players and the country they represent on the pitch. For Marquinhos, the focus now returns to maintaining that titular cushion as PSG close in on another Ligue 1 crown.
