Marquinhos, the 32-year-old central defender for Paris Saint-Germain and Brazil, was at a press conference to announce his inclusion in the squad for the 2026 World Cup. The Parisian captain was asked to comment on the words he whispered to Gabriel, his 28-year-old Arsenal defender, after the Champions League final, before celebrating with his teammates.
Marquinhos: “I know the weight that carries.”
“I was ready to celebrate, but as soon as I started running, the image of Gabi came back to me. It’s the same image as my missed penalty at the 2022 World Cup. At that moment, I thought of my teammate and felt empathy. Having gone through a similar ordeal myself, I know the weight it carries.
It’s part of our careers, and with time, we accept it better, and that scar becomes a source of motivation. But these kinds of moments are very difficult, especially when you’re hoping to score that penalty. I don’t know what he felt, but for me, it was tough. I would have loved to receive a hug at that moment. I interrupted my celebration to go see him and give him a hug.
Marquinhos: “I received a message from him”
The next day, I received a message from him thanking me for the moment, for my support, for my He embraced me, for the words I had spoken to him. I told him that it was my greatest victory that night, that the impact had been immense, that my mother was proud of what I had accomplished, my wife, my family, my brothers. It was the most beautiful title I had won that night.
We players have to move on very quickly; there’s no time to waste on what we’ve already experienced. I can’t celebrate this indefinitely; we have other things to do, and so does he.
It’s a great moment in football, far removed from the spectacle of the game, of course. But just as important. We like to see that fair play isn’t forgotten, that the tension of a match doesn’t erase good feelings. Marquinhos is well aware of this situation and expressed his compassion for his compatriot. The fact that he knows him well may have helped, but that doesn’t diminish the beauty of his gesture. Stopping a celebration for winning the Champions League is particularly powerful.
It may have helped Gabriel, even if the pain didn’t disappear instantly. It’s still a real boost, and the Brazilian didn’t forget to thank Marquinhos, further highlighting what makes him a great captain. He embodies the mentality we love to see in football.
