At a Glance:
- Rio Ferdinand has a message for Gabriel Magalhaes after PSG beat Arsenal.
- Ferdinand congratulated PSG for winning the Champions League.
- Declan Rice reacts to Gabriel’s missed penalty.
Gabriel Magalhaes looked understandably gutted as it was his missed spot-kick that lost Arsenal the Champions League final to PSG on penalties.
Marquinhos consoled Gabriel after PSG’s triumph but the 28-year-old must want the ground to swallow him after the contest.
Kai Havertz fired the Gunners into an early lead and all signs suggested that perhaps the Gunners were destined to make history.
Ousmane Dembele’s eventual equaliser and Gabriel’s poor penalty will ultimately steal the headlines as PSG got over the line against Arsenal but Rio Ferdinand lent his support to the latter.
Rio Ferdinand consoles Gabriel Magalhaes after PSG beat Arsenal in the Champions League final
Before backing Gabriel, Rio Ferdinand congratulated PSG and their manager Luis Enrique for their triumph on X, writing: “Back to back Champions Leagues…congrats to PSG! Luis Enrique, absolute genius.”
Rio Ferdinand added: “Shout out to Arsenal, brilliant season, changed the narrative. Gabriel [is] an absolute rock and [there is] no shame when it comes down to penalties! Respect.”
Back to Back Champions Leagues… Congrats to PSG! Luis Enrique absolute genius 🏆
— Rio Ferdinand (@rioferdy5) May 30, 2026
Shout out to Arsenal, brilliant season, changed the narrative. Gabriel an absolute rock & no shame when it comes down to penalties! Respect 👊🏽
As the Manchester United legend stressed, Gabriel has been imperious for Arsenal and at the end of the day, even all-time greats have not found the back of the net from 12 yards out in such finals.
More to follow…
Declan Rice reacts to Gabriel Magalhaes’ missed penalty
Considering Rio Ferdinand is a legend of the game, Gabriel will feel honoured to have been praised by the retired defender despite Arsenal’s loss to PSG in the Champions League final.
In the aftermath of the contest, Declan Rice stuck up for him as well as Eberechi Eze, the two players who failed to convert from the penalty spot.
💬 "We're all gutted. 😩"
— Football on TNT Sports (@footballontnt) May 30, 2026
Declan Rice speaks after Arsenal lose the UEFA Champions League final…
📺 TNT Sports & HBO Max pic.twitter.com/X3oOn8OTvX
Rice told TNT Sports: “We love them and we are with them. It happens in football. They won’t be the last players to miss penalties in finals, and without those two we wouldn’t have won the Premier League.
Gabriel, I have run out of words for him as a player and with Eze, he’s got crucial goals for us this season. It’s cruel, but we’ll take the positives and keep going.”
