Paris Saint-Germain captain Marquinhos has disclosed the heartfelt message he received from Arsenal defender Gabriel after consoling him following his missed penalty in the Champions League final. The Brazilian centre-back rushed to embrace his compatriot moments after Gabriel's spot-kick sailed over the bar, a gesture that epitomised the fraternal spirit of football even in its most agonising moments.
Marquinhos Reveals Gabriel's Gratitude
Speaking at a press conference ahead of the World Cup, Marquinhos revealed that Gabriel reached out to him the day after the final. 'A day later, I received a message from him thanking me for that moment, for the support, for the hug, and for the words I'd shared with him,' Marquinhos said. 'I told him it had been my greatest victory that night [hugging him], and that the reaction it generated was great.'
The PSG star added that his family were proud of his compassionate act. 'My mum came over, proud of what I'd done, along with my wife, family and brothers. It was the best accolade I received that night.'
Words of Encouragement on the Pitch
Marquinhos also recounted what he whispered to Gabriel during their embrace. 'I was ready and prepared to celebrate,' he explained. '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. That's when I started thinking about my Brazil team-mate, having empathy, because I've been through a moment like that and I know the responsibility.'
He continued: 'I told Gabriel to stay strong, to hold his head high because he'd had an incredible season and an incredible match. 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. 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.'
World Cup Ambitions for Brazil
Marquinhos and Gabriel are expected to line up alongside each other as Brazil aim to win their first World Cup since 2002. The Selecao have been eliminated in the quarter-finals in four of the five tournaments since then and finished fourth on home soil in 2014. However, with Carlo Ancelotti at the helm, Brazil are poised to be a formidable force.
At 32, Marquinhos, who will captain Brazil through the tournament, is likely competing in his last World Cup. He is eager to add more silverware to the Copa America he won in 2019, hoping to lead his country to global glory.
