What Motivates Ecuadorian PSG Star Willian Pacho? The Story Behind His Success

The two-time UEFA Champions League winner and multiple-time champion in France opens up about his life story and the experiences that have shaped his success.

Willian Pacho opened up about his personal journey.

The Ecuadorian defender shared the moments that shaped his life in The Players’ Tribune, from growing up alongside his mother to joining Paris Saint-Germain and reaching the top of European football.

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A Childhood Shaped by His Mother’s Sacrifice

Pacho recalled in The Players’ Tribune that during his childhood, football was simply a hobby, while his mother worked hard to support the family. His first big dream was not even related to sports: he wanted to become a sailor.

His move to Independiente del Valle’s youth academy changed everything. There, he met Moisés Caicedo, with whom he shared a room and later an apartment. “We were two guys trying to make something of our lives,” the defender recalled.

Their story became even more special when those two youngsters who once shared household chores eventually found themselves playing in the Champions League. “To think those two guys washing dishes would one day be playing in the Champions League… No, impossible,” Pacho wrote.

The Day He Made His Debut and Lost His Mother

One of the most painful moments came in 2019. Pacho was about to fulfill his dream of making his professional debut with Independiente del Valle, but his mother passed away that same morning.

Unaware of what had happened, the defender played the match. Afterward, his coach and family members broke the news to him. “They didn’t tell me so I could fulfill my dream,” he recalled.

The loss was devastating. However, Pacho found a way to channel his pain through football. “Instead of playing with my fears, I played with my hunger, with courage. I took on the world,” he said.

From Pain to Becoming a European Champion

The road to PSG was not easy either. Pacho recalled his failed move to Borussia Mönchengladbach, undergoing surgery on both shoulders, and spending months recovering before joining Royal Antwerp.

In Belgium, he rebuilt his career, won a historic title and later earned a move to Eintracht Frankfurt. His performances eventually took him to PSG.

In Paris, Luis Enrique asked him to be patient: “Go at your own pace. Don’t feel like you have to prove anything to anyone.” According to Pacho, that support was crucial in helping him play without pressure.

The result exceeded all expectations. “I never expected to win two Champions Leagues in two consecutive seasons,” he admitted.

Pacho’s story in The Players’ Tribune is much more than a football story: it is the story of a son who turned his mother’s memory into fuel to reach the very top of the game.