Soccer always offers second chances, and Marcos Paulo is proving it in the Carioca Tournament. After a challenging stint in Europe, the Brazilian forward has returned to his home country seeking to regain his best form. In just his second match wearing Boavista SC's jersey, he managed to score his first goal in the championship.
He did it in an unbeatable setting: the legendary Maracanã stadium, and not only that, but his goal was against Fluminense. The club that saw him grow as a footballer and from which he left for Atlético de Madrid in 2021. A special reunion that served to remind everyone of the talent of a player who, at 24 years old, still has much to prove.
This goal is a breath of fresh air in Marcos Paulo Costa's short career, who hasn't had the expected continuity since leaving Brazil. Now, at Boavista SC, he seeks to relaunch his career and prove that he still has the potential to succeed in professional soccer. In Spain, he wasn't lucky and didn't connect at all with Diego Simeone, who didn't see him at Atlético's level despite being a club's bet.
A European adventure full of obstacles
When Atlético de Madrid bet on Marcos Paulo, it was expected that the young forward could become an important player for the colchonero team. However, his time in Europe was marked by a lack of opportunities and constant loans. His first experience was at Famalicão in Portugal, where he played 20 matches without achieving a single goal or assist.
Back in Madrid, the rojiblanco club decided to loan him to CD Mirandés in LaLiga Hypermotion where he was coached by Joseba Etxeberria. There, although he had a bit more prominence, he barely added 2 goals and 2 assists in 15 matches. His best period in these years came with São Paulo, a club he joined in 2023 after breaking his loan in Spain.
São Paulo didn't want to buy him
In the tricolor team, he played 29 matches, scored 4 goals, and provided 2 assists, leaving a good impression. However, at the end of the season, he returned to Atlético de Madrid without a spot on the team. Marcos Paulo's last major attempt in European soccer was with Molenbeek in Belgium, but he barely made 4 appearances between the Belgian league and the under-21 team.
Seeking minutes and confidence, he decided to return to Brazil to join Boavista SC, a club that has opened its doors to him in the Carioca Tournament. In his second match with the carioca club, he faced Fluminense, the club where he was trained and from where he departed to Atlético de Madrid. In his second match, he returned to Maracanã and scored his team's goal that ended in a draw against Mano Menezes's side, now he seeks to rise again.