He was virtually unknown when he arrived at PSG in 2024, a young man from the rough neighbourhoods of Quininde in northern Ecuador. Now Willian Pacho faces Arsenal on Saturday in a match that could make PSG only the second team to retain the Champions League trophy. But does the 24-year-old defender have what it takes to contain Arsenal’s dreams of a comeback after a 20-year absence?
When Willian Pacho was asked about the number 51 on his jersey, the Ecuadorian defender’s reply spoke volumes about his rise from poverty, the challenges he faced along the way, and how it has shaped the 24-year-old Paris Saint-Germain (PSG) centre-back.
