Did he hit it blind? Gabriel Magalhaes’ PSG-winning penalty | OneFootball

Was it a no-look? Gabriel Magalhaes’ bizarre decision on the penalty that gave PSG the Champions League.

The spot kick that cost Arsenal the title was missed by the Brazilian center back, and an image circulating on social media seems to show he shot without looking at the goal.

PSG are back-to-back Champions League winners, and Arsenal were left empty-handed after a 1-1 draw in regular time and a 5-3 loss in the penalty shootout. The penalty that ultimately decided the title was taken by Gabriel Magalhaes, the Brazilian defender who fired wide and handed the trophy to the French side. But beyond the result, what sparked debate on social media was an image from the exact moment of the kick: the defender appears to be looking the other way when he shoots. Did he try the famous no-look and get it wrong?

The image is making the rounds and continues to fuel debate. In the photo that went viral, Magalhaes appears at the instant of the shot with his head turned, seemingly not looking at the goal as he strikes the ball. The gesture is reminiscent of the so-called no-look penalty, a technique that involves taking the kick while looking in a different direction from where the ball is being sent, with the aim of misleading the goalkeeper about where the shot is going.

The move has famous precedents in football. Several players have pulled it off successfully over the years, though it always carries the huge risk of going wrong. If Magalhaes really did attempt that move in the most important penalty of the season, in the Champions League final, the image would go down as one of the most memorable in the tournament’s recent history.

What is not entirely clear is whether the defender actually took the penalty that way intentionally, or whether the photo simply captured an angle that creates that impression without necessarily reflecting what happened. Head movement while striking the ball can be due to several factors, including the tension of the moment or simply the mechanics of the shot. The image is not conclusive, but it keeps the question alive.

This article was translated into English by Artificial Intelligence. You can read the original version in 🇪🇸 here.