'Best defender in the world' - Marquinhos reveals what he told Arsenal star Gabriel after crucial penalty miss in UEFA Champions League final

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Paris Saint-Germain defender Marquinhos has told a press conference what he said to Brazil colleague Gabriel after Arsenal’s penalty shoot-out defeat in the UEFA Champions League final.

'I know what it feels like' - Marquinhos on consoling Gabriel in UCL final

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Marquinhos revealed he felt compelled to offer immediate support after his fellow Brazilian's decisive spot-kick miss sealed the Champions League title for the French champions.

The post-match interaction became a defining image of the final, as Marquinhos bypassed his sprinting team-mates to embrace the distraught Arsenal centre-back.

Speaking about the incident while on international duty with the Brazil squad, the veteran defender explained that his actions were driven by a profound sense of empathy, rooted in his own past footballing struggles.

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Marquinhos famously suffered a similar fate during the 2022 World Cup in Qatar, where his missed penalty against Croatia resulted in Brazil’s quarter-final elimination.

"I was ready to celebrate," Marquinhos said, recalling the immediate aftermath of the final whistle.

"But as I started running toward my team-mates, I saw Gabriel standing in front of me while my team ran past him. It reminded me of the moment when I missed a penalty at the World Cup.

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"At that moment, I thought about my team-mate and felt empathy for what he was going through. I know the weight of that responsibility and what it feels like to be in that situation."

The PSG captain acknowledged the severe psychological toll that a high-profile penalty miss can take on a player, particularly at the climax of a European club season.

He noted that while time eventually heals such wounds, the immediate emotional impact remains treacherous for players.

"It's part of our career," Marquinhos added. "With time, as the days, matches and moments pass, you learn to process it better, and that scar can become motivation to keep working.

"But in that moment, it's very difficult. I don't know how significant that moment was for him, but for me, it was truly difficult.

"Just as I would have liked to receive a hug in that moment, I paused my celebration for a few minutes to go over and give him one."

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When asked about the specific words of comfort he offered to the Arsenal defender on the pitch, Marquinhos explained that he wanted to reinforce Gabriel’s standing after an exceptional individual campaign under Mikel Arteta.

Arsenal's defensive record domestically and continentally had been anchored by Gabriel, a factor the PSG captain felt should not be overshadowed by a single penalty breakdown.

He said: "In my opinion, he was the best defender in the world this season, and he didn't deserve to carry that burden with him.

"With a penalty, you want to score, you want to do your best, and sometimes it doesn't happen.

"Nothing from that moment could erase the wonderful season he had, and we are going to need him here. Those were my words to him to stay strong and keep his head up."

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