David Luiz: “I trained so my sister could go to university”
This conversation with David Luiz took place in 2015, during his time at Paris Saint-Germain, when he was 28 years old and the most expensive defender in football history. Looking back from 2026, the conversation captures a player at the peak of his career, but already deeply focused on values beyond football.
Life in Paris and Growing Through Europe
David Luiz Moreira Marinho rarely goes without a smile. That same openness defines both his personality and the way he has embraced life in Europe. From leaving home at fourteen in Brazil to settling in Paris, his journey has been shaped by curiosity, optimism, and adaptability.
Life After Football visits him at his home near the Seine, in Paris’ seventeenth arrondissement. The neighbourhood is elegant and calm, with bistros, a modern theatre, and a church nearby. A security guard outside hints at the wealth of the area. Inside, football and personal life blend naturally: a small David Luiz figurine in a PSG shirt, PlayStation games under a large television, and framed photos waiting to be hung.
“I am a happy man. Fashion is quite important to me. I love Paris, and all Brazilians do too. When you think of Europe, you think of Paris. It’s the city of love and romance. It’s classic, but also modern.”
His European journey began in Lisbon with Benfica, continued in London at Chelsea, and matured in Paris.
“Paris is different from Lisbon and London. There is more culture here. When my family visits from Brazil, they are out all day. Museums, the Eiffel Tower. I understand that. On my first free day at Benfica, I flew straight to Paris myself. I learned to eat differently. In Brazil, I almost only ate rice and beans, and fried plantain. Here I eat Japanese and Italian food. I’ve met people from all over the world. If you’re open to it, you can learn something every day.”
Mentality, Faith and Values
David Luiz’s outlook on life is shaped by optimism, faith, and a deep awareness of hardship beyond football. He reflects on pain, joy, religion, and the mindset that carries him through life.
“In Brazil, people suffer pain. Three quarters of the country do not have an easy life. In my opinion, the solution lies in education. Education has to improve. But in Brazil, the glass is always half full. For me too. That’s our culture. To be cheerful. Wherever you are. Even here in Paris. Even when I had to do homework after training, I was happy.”
David Luiz is convinced of one thing:
“I was born to make a difference in my family. That’s how I see it. I trained so my sister could go to university. That is more important than my football career. Much more important, actually. Even though the dream of becoming a professional footballer was once the oxygen I breathed. My father teaches at university again, and my mother is very busy with my foundation. Soon we’ll have a meeting with everyone involved. We’ll decide on a new direction. My mother is the driving force behind it. She manages 55 volunteers and travels all across Brazil. We primarily help children, but we also want elderly people in care homes to feel young again. I try to be a positive person.”
He has a strong relationship with his family.
“I always listened to them, and I’ll benefit from that for the rest of my life. Even though they were often far away, I always felt them close. I do miss physical contact, but whenever possible, I bring them over. Leaving home at fourteen was tough without my family. I missed a lot at that age. My parents. My sister. If I had known for sure that I could become a professional without growing up so far from home, I would have chosen that.”
He then tells us about his faith.
“Faith is the most important thing in my life. My relationship with God helps me become a better person and love others. I was recently baptised in the private swimming pool of my teammate and compatriot Maxwell. It felt like I was born again. Yes, really. I regularly go to Hillsong Church here in Paris. I feel good there.”
Handling the Spotlight
At the height of his career, David Luiz reflects on football, fame, and responsibility with remarkable calm. This final part of the interview shows how he balances success, pressure, and global visibility. The dark brown curls have become David Luiz’s trademark over the years, comparable to Ruud Gullit’s dreadlocks in the 1980s. On the pitch, the hairstyle is impossible to miss. He can joke about it, but becomes serious when talking about how long it will last.
“A friend of mine in Brazil is a doctor. He has two thousand clients a month. No, wait, I see your look, this really is about hair. He studied at Harvard and researched that I could lose it, because it’s thinner in certain places. But he found a solution, a kind of shampoo. Over five years, it makes your hair stronger. So I dare say I won’t lose my hair. But I do walk around with a big hat sometimes. Does my hair make me stronger on the pitch? Maybe. But it also makes me look thinner, don’t you think?”
Even more than talking about his hair, David Luiz loves talking about children. In Brazil, he is known as one of the country’s biggest friends of children. Countless videos online show him with kids. One touching clip shows a blindfolded boy bursting into tears when he realises he’s standing in front of his idol. David Luiz cries with him. Another shows a boy running onto the Brazilian national team’s training pitch just to be near him. Luiz doesn’t send him away, but embraces him and even signs his shirt.
“Kids are pure. They keep me young. If you don’t think like children, you live shorter. Forever young, my friend. They call me the babysitter. I can entertain myself with children all day. I often babysit for family and friends. My sister is expecting her second child soon. I love that. She’s six months pregnant. I hope it’s a boy. Another footballer in the family would be nice.”
Social media has made communication with his family easier, but also deepened his bond with fans. With over 26 million Facebook followers, 11 million on Instagram, and 8 million on Twitter, his reach dwarfs that of many football icons.
“Through social media, I can communicate with so many people around the world. I realise that a single comment on Instagram can make a difference for many followers. I don’t see that as pressure. Before, I felt pressure to become a professional footballer. Now there’s pressure to win important matches. But as an adult, I handle that much better.”
David Luiz has fully embraced life in Paris. In every sense.
Ready for more?
Check out this story about Manu Koné growing up in the suburbs of Paris and how it shaped him.
From exclusive interviews to business moves and lifestyle beyond the pitch, explore more stories inside the Player’s Lounge.
Want to stay updated with Life After Football exclusive content, behind-the-scenes stories, and lifestyle from beyond the pitch? Subscribe to our newsletter and follow us on Instagram!
