Italian · Pescara, Italy · Born 5 November 1992Diminutive Italian maestro whose close control and passing in tight spaces made him one of the finest midfielders of his generation.
Marco Verratti was born on 5 November 1992 in Pescara, Italy, and joined the youth ranks of local amateur clubs before signing with his hometown club, Pescara, where he progressed rapidly through the academy system. Despite standing just 5-foot-5, a height that led some scouts to doubt his prospects at the highest level, Verratti's extraordinary technical ability, close control, and vision under pressure quickly marked him out as one of the most gifted young midfielders in Italian football. Verratti helped Pescara win promotion to Serie A via the 2011-12 Serie B title, and his performances that season — combining a mature tactical understanding with a physical fearlessness that belied his size — earned him the Bravo Award as Europe's best young player and, remarkably, a transfer to Paris Saint-Germain in 2012, aged just 19. Over more than a decade at PSG, Verratti became the club's midfield metronome, renowned for his ability to retain possession under intense pressure and dictate the tempo of matches from deep positions. He won multiple Ligue 1 titles and domestic cups, establishing himself as one of the most technically accomplished central midfielders in European football, even as PSG's Champions League ambitions repeatedly fell short during his time at the club. Verratti earned over 50 caps for Italy, representing his country at Euro 2016, Euro 2020 — where Italy won the tournament, though Verratti's involvement was limited by injury and squad rotation — and the 2022 World Cup qualifying campaign, in which Italy controversially failed to qualify. After leaving PSG in 2023, he moved to Qatari football, playing for Al-Arabi and later Al Duhail.
Key midfielder in Italy's Euro 2020 triumph
Despite being one of the world's best midfielders, he only won Euro 2020 with Italy while injured, meaning his greatest trophy came without him playing in the knockout rounds.
Did You Know?How They Played
Deep-lying playmaker with exceptional vision, passing range and press resistance
Lasting Impact
One of the finest deep-lying playmakers of his generation
Career Honours
- Ligue 1 9x
- Coupe de France 6x
- Euro 2020
- UEFA Nations League 2021
| Club | Period | Fee | Apps | Goals |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pescara | 2008–2012 | €12m | 74 | 2 |
| Paris Saint-Germain | 2012–2023 | — | 276 | 7 |
| Al-Arabi | 2023–2025 | — | 33 | 4 |
| Al Duhail | 2025–Present | — | 10 | 1 |
 Italy | — | — | 65 | 5 |
Italian Athletes