Gabriel
Active- Current or last club
- Arsenal
- Country (nationality)
- Brazil
- League or competition
- Premier League
- Position
- Centre-back
- How is the religion known?
- Stated publicly by the player
Gabriel publicly gave credit to Jesus Christ after scoring in a Premier League match against Aston Villa. Following his goal, he lifted his jersey to reveal a message written on his undershirt that said, “All honour and glory to Jesus.”
We list a player’s religion only where they have spoken about it publicly or it has been reliably reported, and we link our sources. If something is wrong, or a player’s views have changed, please tell us and we will review it.
Table of Contents
What religion is Gabriel Magalhães?
Gabriel Magalhães is a Brazilian professional footballer who is a committed Christian, highly vocal about his faith, and frequently shares his religious beliefs both on and off the pitch. His commitment to Christianity is evident through several personal expressions, including a prominent tattoo on his neck that reads ‘God is love.’
Gabriel also publicly gave credit to Jesus Christ after scoring in a Premier League match against Aston Villa, lifting his jersey to reveal an undershirt message that read, ‘All honor and glory to Jesus.
Gabriel Magalhães plays primarily as a centre-back for Premier League club Arsenal and the Brazil national team. Previously, he played for Avaí, Lille, and Dinamo Zagreb, helping the Croatian club win a domestic league and cup double in 2018. Among his other achievements, Gabriel won the Premier League with Arsenal in 2026, won the FA Community Shield in 2023 and 2026, and helped the club reach its first UEFA Champions League final in 22 years while earning a nomination for the prestigious Ballon d’Or.
Early life
Born in the Pirituba district of São Paulo, Brazil, Gabriel Magalhães is the son of Marcelo Magalhães, a former professional footballer who played for Corinthians and Portuguesa. At age 13, he moved 700 kilometers south of his hometown to join the youth academy of Avaí in Florianópolis. Due to severe homesickness, Gabriel initially returned to São Paulo after just one week. However, following encouragement from his father, he went back to Avaí two weeks later to continue his development. He signed his first professional contract with the club in 2014 at age 16.
Club career
Gabriel was promoted to Avaí’s first team in early 2016 and made his senior debut that January in the Primeira Liga. Across his debut season, he made 34 appearances and scored 2 goals, helping Avaí secure promotion to the Campeonato Brasileiro Série A. In January 2017, Gabriel joined French Ligue 1 side Lille, signing a four-and-a-half-year contract. He initially featured for the club’s reserve side and completed loan spells during the 2017–18 season at Troyes and Croatian club Dinamo Zagreb, where he earned a Croatian First League winner’s medal. Gabriel returned to Lille for the 2018–19 campaign, making his first start on 10 February 2019 in a 2–0 victory over Guingamp. He went on to establish himself as a regular starter the following season, compiling 39 senior appearances for the club and earning a place in the Ligue 1 Team of the Year.
Arsenal
On 1 September 2020, Arsenal announced the signing of Gabriel Magalhães on a long-term contract for a fee reaching the region of £27 million after add-ons. During his debut 2020–21 campaign, he made 23 Premier League appearances, scored 2 goals, and won three consecutive Arsenal Player of the Month awards.
Gabriel recorded his 100th Premier League appearance on 17 September 2023, scoring the only goal in a 1–0 away victory against Everton. In the 2023–24 season, he made 36 league appearances, scored 4 goals, and earned a selection in the PFA Team of the Year alongside defensive partner William Saliba.
After initially extending his terms in July 2023, Gabriel signed another contract extension during the 2024–25 season to run until June 2029. He played a pivotal role as Arsenal secured the 2025–26 Premier League title, a campaign highlighted by his stoppage-time winning goal in a 2–1 away victory over Newcastle United.
On the continental stage, Gabriel registered a goal and an assist against Atlético Madrid during the league phase of the UEFA Champions League. Although he missed the final decisive penalty in the shootout defeat against Paris Saint-Germain on 30 May 2026, his defensive performances earned him a place in the UEFA Champions League Team of the Season.
International career
Gabriel represented Brazil at the under-20 and under-23 levels before earning his first senior international call-up. He made his senior debut for the Brazil national team on 9 September 2023, starting as a centre-back during a 5–1 victory against Bolivia in a 2026 FIFA World Cup qualification fixture.
On 18 May 2026, manager Carlo Ancelotti selected Gabriel for Brazil’s final 26-man squad for the 2026 FIFA World Cup. He served as a main starter at the tournament, playing the full 90 minutes in a 1–1 opening draw against Morocco and keeping a clean sheet in a 3–0 group-stage win over Haiti. During the final group stage game, he provided a crucial assist for Casemiro to help secure a 2–1 comeback victory over Japan and confirm Brazil’s progression to the knockout phase. The team’s campaign ultimately concluded in the round of 16 following a 2–1 defeat against Norway.
Personal life
Gabriel married his longtime partner, Gabrielle Figueiredo, in June 2023 following their engagement announcement in September 2021. The couple welcomed their daughter, Maya, in April 2022.
Sources
- During a match (opens in a new tab) Facebook post
Sources are linked so you can check each claim yourself. Beliefs and public statements can change, so please check the source for the latest.
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