2026 UEFA Champions League final: PSG captain Marquinhos praised for ‘class’ gesture after penalty shoot-out victory - ‘What a touch’

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TNT Sports pundits Ally McCoist and Steven Gerrard were impressed with the "class" gesture shown by one of the Paris Saint-Germain players at the end of the UEFA Champions League final.

Watch: Arsenal HEARTBREAK as PSG win UCL final after Gabriel miss

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With the contest going down to a penalty shoot-out after Ousmane Dembele had cancelled out Kai Havertz's early opener, both teams were unable to find a winner in extra time.

It was down to Gabriel to take the fifth spot-kick for Arsenal but the Brazil international stepped up and blazed his effort sailed over the bar as PSG retained the Champions League crown.

And as the PSG players ran off to celebrate, one stayed behind to console Gabriel and offer some support in the immediate seconds afterwards.

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TV cameras showed Marquinhos pulling Gabriel into an embrace and offering words of comfort to his fellow Brazil international defender.

And McCoist and Gerrard praised the sportsmanship shown by the 32-year-old.

Highlights: Arsenal agony as PSG retain Champions League crown

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Gerrard called Marquinhos' actions "class," and McCoist concurred.

"I'm gutted for Gabriel," McCoist said on TNT Sports. "The first person who went up to him after he missed was Marquinhos.

"His Brazilian centre-back pal. He went right up and gave him the biggest cuddle you'll ever see. It will mean nothing to him at this moment in time but what a touch it was."

Gabriel's miss was a sour end to Saturday's final in Budapest for the defender, having produced a number of key interventions.

In the first half alone, he produced three vital blocks to shut down promising PSG attacks as Arsenal defended a one-goal lead.

Even though PSG levelled from the penalty spot through Ousmane Dembele, Gabriel was a rock at the back all game.

And he stepped up to take Arsenal's fifth penalty, needing to score to keep his side in the game.

But his effort went over the bar, with Arsenal losing 4-3 on penalties and the club still searching for their first Champions League title.

Despite the sad ending to his evening, TNT Sports pundit and former Arsenal defender Martin Keown heaped praise on the 28-year-old.

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"He's my favourite Arsenal player. I've watched him all season and I take a lot of joy from it," Keown said. "He doesn't have to be ashamed about anything that he's done tonight.

"He had the bottle to go out there and take it. OK, he missed it, but he was magnificent during the game. A real leader for Arsenal."

Keown feels Arsenal can bounce back under Mikel Arteta.

He added: "Twenty years ago, it felt like it was the end of an era. Arsene Wenger stayed on for another 10 years, but that was as far as that team under him could go.

"I feel there's a lot more to come from this team. They've just got to now use this energy and this hurt to tackle next year's competition."

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