Paris Saint-Germain skipper Marquinhos has explained why he rushed to console Arsenal defender Gabriel Magalhães following his penalty miss in Saturday’s Champions League final — and it all comes down to lived experience. Rather than joining his celebrating teammates, the 32-year-old Brazilian went straight to embrace a heartbroken Gabriel after PSG retained their title with a 4-3 shootout victory following a 1-1 draw in Budapest.
Champions League Final Penalty Miss Brings Back World Cup Nightmare
Marquinhos knows this pain intimately. Speaking to TNT, he drew an immediate parallel to his own penalty miss in Croatia’s quarterfinal shootout win over Brazil at the 2022 World Cup. “When that moment happened, the first thing I thought of was the time I missed the penalty in the World Cup,” he said. “I know how difficult that moment is for a player; it’s a weight that really falls on your shoulders.”
Gabriel had struck his spot-kick high over the bar, moments after Arsenal teammate Eberechi Eze had also failed to convert. Ultimately, those two misses proved decisive on a brutal night in Hungary. Furthermore, the context made the miss all the more gut-wrenching — Arsenal arrived at that final as Premier League champions for the first time in 22 years, chasing their first European Cup in the club’s 140-year history.
Marquinhos Sends Message of Support Ahead of Brazil Reunion
Despite the enormity of the occasion, Marquinhos showed a remarkable level of empathy in that moment. “I simply thought about the moment I went through myself, which was very difficult,” he explained. “I just wanted to give him a hug and tell him that I’ve been through it too.”
Interestingly, the pair will be reunited almost immediately. Both Marquinhos and Gabriel travel to the United States this week to link up with Brazil’s national squad ahead of World Cup preparations. The PSG captain was clear about how much his compatriot means to the Seleção. “We need him so much,” he said of the 28-year-old. “He’s a very important player, so I hope he can enjoy this moment as Premier League champion, get over that penalty quickly and focus on the national team.”
Class act from a proper leader.