After one of the most painful nights in Arsenal’s history, a moment of genuine human compassion stood out above the celebrations in Budapest.
PSG defeated Arsenal 4-3 on penalties following a 1-1 draw in the Champions League final, ending the Gunners’ dream of lifting European football’s biggest trophy.
Brazilian centre-back Gabriel Magalhães missed the decisive penalty, leaving him devastated on the pitch as PSG players rushed to celebrate their triumph.
However, PSG captain Marquinhos chose not to join his teammates immediately, instead making his way directly to his fellow Brazilian to offer words of comfort and support.
The moment resonated deeply because Marquinhos knew exactly what Gabriel was feeling, having experienced a penalty miss of his own in 2022.
“I was ready and prepared to celebrate,” Marquinhos said, as reported by Metro, explaining the split-second decision that showed real leadership beyond the result.
“But when I started running, I saw him right in front of me and my team going past him, the same image as after my penalty [miss] in 2022.”
Marquinhos then described the empathy that drove him toward Gabriel rather than toward his celebrating teammates in those emotional post-final moments.
“That’s when I started thinking about my [Brazil] teammate, having empathy, because I’ve been through a moment like that and I know the responsibility,” he said.
The PSG captain made sure Gabriel understood how highly he was regarded, delivering words that went far beyond simple consolation after a shootout defeat.
“I told [Gabriel] to stay strong, to hold his head high because he’d had an incredible season and an incredible match,” Marquinhos explained with characteristic warmth and sincerity.
He went even further, offering a remarkable personal assessment of where Gabriel stands among the world’s elite defenders at this stage of his career.
“I told him that, in my opinion, he was the best centre-back in the world this season. He simply didn’t deserve to carry that burden because, of course, we all want to score penalties,” Marquinhos added.
The PSG skipper also made clear that Gabriel’s importance to Brazil means moving on quickly from this disappointment is not just personal but a matter of national responsibility.
“I told him that nothing about that moment would take away from the wonderful season he’d had and that we were going to need him very much,” Marquinhos said, referencing their shared international duties.
Both defenders will now represent Brazil at the World Cup, meaning Gabriel cannot afford to let the penalty miss weigh heavily on him heading into the tournament.
Gabriel’s season was remarkable regardless of that final moment, with his performances a cornerstone of Arsenal’s Premier League title win and their deep Champions League run.
Marquinhos’ gesture was widely praised as a genuine display of sportsmanship, reminding fans everywhere that football’s best moments are not always found in the goals or the trophies.
