MIAMI (United States) – After a 23-year career and just 17 days shy of his 41st birthday, Brazilian forward Marquinhos Sousa has announced his retirement from professional basketball. He played his final game with Vasco da Gama, whose season in the Brazilian league ended on May 14 following a playoff loss to Minas Tenis Clube.
Marquinhos leaves the game as one of the most prominent figures in Brazilian basketball history, ranking among the top winners and scorers in the NBB. Over the years, he played for clubs such as Pinheiros, Flamengo, São Paulo, and Vasco da Gama. With Flamengo, he captured six league titles and two national cups, earned three Most Valuable Player awards, and remains the only Brazilian player to have scored over 9,000 points (9,202) in league history. Internationally, he also made a lasting impact with the Rio de Janeiro squad. He won the double in 2014, claiming both the FIBA Americas League and the Intercontinental Cup. Then, in 2021, he lifted the trophy again in the second edition of the Basketball Champions League Americas. The following year, he repeated the feat with São Paulo, becoming a two-time BCL Americas champion with two different teams.
Marquinhos also had a distinguished career with the Brazilian national team, winning a gold medal at the Pan American Games (2007) and a silver at the FIBA AmeriCup (2011). He competed in three FIBA World Cups (2010, 2014, and 2019) and two Olympic Games (2012 and 2016). His impressive résumé also includes a stint in the NBA with the New Orleans Hornets, where he appeared in 26 games across the 2006–07 and 2007–08 seasons. With a combination of talent, longevity, and dedication, Marquinhos retires leaving behind an indelible legacy. His deadly shooting from mid- and long-range, along with his leadership on the court, are now part of the rich history of Brazilian and global basketball.
FIBA