Marselino started his senior career with Persebaya Surabaya in 2021, emerging through its youth system. During his first season he became a regular starter and won the Liga 1Best Young Player Award and was named of as one of the 60 most talented and promising players by The Guardian in the same year.[4] He joined Belgian side Deinze in February 2023.[5] After a year and a half with Deinze, he joined Oxford United on a free transfer in 2024.[6]
Marselino has represented Indonesia at various youth level, finishing third at the 2019 AFF U-15 Championship and winning a bronze medal at the 2021 Southeast Asian Games.[citation needed] He made his senior international debut in 2022, becoming the second youngest Indonesian debutant, and scored his first goal at the 2023 AFC Asian Cup qualifiers becoming the nation's youngest goalscorer.
Club career
Persebaya Surabaya
Marselino broke into the senior team of Persebaya Surabaya in the 2021–22 Liga 1 season a few days after his 17th birthday, after two years in its youth system. His debut was on 12 September 2021 in a Liga 1 match against Persikabo 1973 that ended with a 3–1 victory for Persebaya.[7][8] On 6 November 2021, he scored his first league goal and saved his team from defeat in a 2–2 draw with rival Arema.[9] On 4 December 2021, he scored the opening goal in the first half and recorded his first assist, to Taisei Marukawa, in Persebaya's 2–0 win over Barito Putera at Manahan Stadium.[10]
On 5 January 2022, Marselino provided another assist for Samsul Arif early in the first half, and scored in the second half of Persebaya's 3–1 win over Bali United.[11] Nine days later, he was involved in Persebaya's 2–1 win over PSM Makassar, scoring in the 55th minute.[12] On 23 August, Marselino scored the only goal in a 1–0 home win against PSIS Semarang at the Gelora Bung Tomo Stadium, and was selected as 'Man of the Match'.[13][14]
On 18 January 2023, Marselino scored a brace for the club in a 0–5 away win against Persita Tangerang.[15]
Marselino scored his first and only league goal for Deinze on 22 April 2023 against Virton in a 3–1 win.[18]
Oxford United
On 19 August 2024, EFL Championship club Oxford United announced that Marselino had signed a two-year deal and had been assigned the number 28 jersey.[19][6]
On 11 January 2025, Marselino made his debut for Oxford United in the 2024–25 FA Cup match against Exeter City. He came on as a substitute in the 89th minute during a 1–3 defeat.[20]
International career
Youth
Marselino first represented Indonesia at the age of 14 when he debuted for the Indonesia U-17 team, in a match against Vietnam U-17 in the 2019 AFF U-15 Championship.[21] He scored his first international goal in his debut match that ended with a 2–0 win.[22]
Marselino was part of the Indonesia U-23 team that won bronze in the 2021 Southeast Asian Games. He scored two goals in the six matches that he played in that tournament.[25] He was again called up for the under-23 national team for the 2023 Southeast Asian Games, in which he scored two goals in the tournament and helped the team win the gold medal for the first time in 32 years.[26]
In January 2022, Marselino was called up to the Indonesia national team for two friendly matches against Timor-Leste in Bali.[30] He earned his first senior cap on 27 January 2022 in the first match that ended with a 4–1 win for Indonesia.[31] He became the second-youngest Indonesian to play for the main national team at the age of 17 years 4 months and 18 days, just behind Ronaldo Kwateh who debuted in the same match.[31]
Marselino (left) contends for the ball while representing Indonesia in a match against Vietnam in 2024
On 14 June 2022, Marselino became the youngest goal-scorer in the Indonesia senior team at the age of 17 years and 9 months, after scoring against Nepal in the 2023 AFC Asian Cup qualification in a 7–0 win.[32]
Marselino was called up for his first AFF Championship tournament by Shin Tae-yong.[33] He scored a goal against the Philippines in the 2022 AFF Championship group stage; the goal went viral on social media and caught the attention of the Brazilian Richarlison because of his similar goal celebration.[34] He was also awarded the Young Player of the Tournament award.[35]
On 15 January 2024, Marselino scored the equalizing goal against Iraq in an eventual 1–3 losing effort in the 2023 AFC Asian Cup group stage.[36] He became the youngest goalscorer in the tournament and the nation’s all time youngest scorer in the AFC Asian Cup. On 19 November 2024, Marselino scored a brace in a 2–0 win over Saudi Arabia, which secured Indonesia's first ever win against Saudi Arabia, as well as their first win in the third round of 2026 FIFA World Cup qualification. He was also named the man of the match.[37]
Personal life
His traditional name based on the Ngada people's customs is Marselino Ferdinan Dhewa Kedhi. Marselino's mother comes from Surabaya, while his father comes from Ngada, East Nusa Tenggara. He spent his school years in Surabaya.[38]
Marselino is the youngest child of four siblings. During the 2021–22 Liga 1 season, Oktafianus Fernando, his older brother, played for Persebaya Surabaya before Oktafianus left for PSIS Semarang the following season.[39]
Marselino is close friend with Singaporean national team footballer, Ilhan Fandi during his time in Belgium and the duo would often meet one another on their off duty.
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