The story behind Marquinhos's viral embrace of Magalhães in the Champions League final

Paris Saint-Germain captain Marquinhos detailed the heartfelt moment he embraced Brazil teammate Gabriel Magalhães immediately after the Champions League final, when the Arsenal defender missed a crucial penalty. Marquinhos, who had just secured his second consecutive Champions League title with PSG, joined the Brazilian national team camp in New Jersey shortly after the match.

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That image was the same as when I missed my penalty in the 2022 World Cup. At that moment, I thought a little about my teammate and showed him some empathy. I know what the weight and responsibility of living through that moment is like.

Instead of joining his PSG teammates in immediate celebration, Marquinhos was drawn to Magalhães, who was visibly distraught. "That image was the same as when I missed my penalty in the 2022 World Cup," Marquinhos explained in a press conference. "At that moment, I thought a little about my teammate and showed him some empathy. I know what the weight and responsibility of living through that moment is like."

Marquinhos told Magalhães to "stay strong and hold his head up," praising his "incredible season and game" and calling him the "best defender in the world" this season. He assured his compatriot that the missed penalty would not overshadow his "wonderful season" with Arsenal, where he also won the English Premier League. Marquinhos expressed hope that the "wound" of the missed penalty would heal quickly, emphasizing Magalhães's importance to Brazil.

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He told me to stay strong and hold his head up, that he had had an incredible season and game, that, in my opinion, he has been the best defender in the world this season and that he did not deserve to carry that weight.

Reflecting on the aftermath, Marquinhos shared that Magalhães messaged him the next day to express his gratitude. "I replied that that moment was my greatest victory that night," Marquinhos said. "It was really beautiful to see the reaction; to see my mother proud of what I did, my wife, my brothers. That was the best victory and the best title of that night."

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I replied that that moment was my greatest victory that night. It was really beautiful to see the reaction; to see my mother proud of what I did, my wife, my brothers. That was the best victory and the best title of that night.