Arsenal ace Gabriel Magalhaes has now admitted that he would rather win the World Cup with Brazil than lift a Champions League trophy under Gunners boss Mikel Arteta.
The north London giants are now one of just two English teams remaining in the Champions League this term. Arsenal sealed their spot in the knockout stages as the winners of Group B ahead of PSV Eindhoven. The defending champions Manchester City finished atop Group G.
Manchester United and Newcastle United let the Premier League contingent in this season’s edition down after finishing last in Groups A and F respectively. Arsenal and Manchester City will learn their opponents for the Last 16 at the draw come Monday, December 18 at 11:00.
Who could Arsenal get in the draw for the Last 16 of the Champions League?
Arsenal will face either Copenhagen, Inter Milan, Lazio, Napoli, Paris Saint-Germain, Porto or RB Leipzig in the Last 16 of the Champions League. They have not advanced past the round since the 2009/10 season following seven-straight exits in the Round of 16 up until 2016/17.
This term marked Arsenal’s return to the Champions League for the first time in six years, as well. Arteta would oversee four wins, one draw and one defeat during the group stage, with Gabriel starting all six ties. The 25-year-old also played each minute with three clean sheets.
Gabriel admits winning the World Cup with Brazil trumps the Champions League
But Gabriel does not see winning a Champions League title as the Arsenal defender’s great dream over the World Cup. The six-cap Brazil international told the Gunners’ X account for a quick-fire Q&A when asked which of the trophies he would prefer to win: “[The] World Cup.”
Gabriel has so far only won the HNL title whilst in Croatia’s top-flight with Dinamo Zagreb in 2017/18 plus the Community Shield with Arsenal in 2024 throughout the Sao Paulo native’s career to date. He moved to Emirates Stadium from LOSC Lille in September 2020 for £27m.
Arteta signed Gabriel on the back of adding the last major title to Arsenal’s trophy cabinet in 2020 with their 14th FA Cup honour. The Gunners have never won the Champions League as Barcelona beat Arsenal 2-1 during the north Londoners’ only time reaching the final in 2006.
Brazil, meanwhile, have not won the World Cup since lifting their record fifth title during the 2002 edition in Japan and South Korea. Gabriel has also never played at a World Cup, having only made his Selecao debut this September. He has since started in their past six meetings.
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