Ball from Gabriel's missed penalty in Champions League final goes up for auction
The ball Arsenal defender Gabriel sent over the crossbar in the shootout of the Champions League final won by PSG will be offered at auction by Aguttes in Neuilly.
Key takeaways
- One of the balls used in the Champions League final between PSG and Arsenal on 30 May at the Puskas Arena in Hungary is up for auction via Aguttes in Neuilly-sur-Seine.
- The ball was struck by Gabriel and sailed over the crossbar during the shootout, contributing to PSG's victory.
- The ball was retrieved by a Portuguese-origin spectator behind the goal and has been kept since.
- The sale catalogue also includes a Zinédine Zidane shirt.
- Auction details such as the estimated price, sale date and authenticity methods are not specified in the article.
Collectors and Paris supporters have a new item to keep an eye on. According to Le Parisien, one of the balls used in the most recent Champions League final, won by Paris Saint-Germain against Arsenal on 30 May, is listed in the catalogue of an auction organised by the Aguttes auction house in Neuilly-sur-Seine. The same sale also includes a Zinédine Zidane shirt.
An item tied to the climax of the final
What makes this ball special is its story. It is the one struck by Gabriel, the Gunners' Brazilian centre-back, during the penalty shootout. His effort flew over the crossbar, a miss that remains linked to PSG's triumph.
The European title was PSG's second in two years, as the newspaper points out. The match was played at the Puskas Arena in Hungary, where Paris supporters celebrated their team's victory late into the night.
Caught by a spectator
After the missed penalty, the ball ended up in the stands. According to Le Parisien, it was caught by a spectator of Portuguese origin. He was seated behind the goal, below the end occupied by the roughly 18,000 PSG supporters in the stadium.
It is this ball, kept by the spectator ever since according to the newspaper's account, that is now being put up for sale.
Details still incomplete
Based on the information available, the Le Parisien article does not specify the expected estimate for the ball, the exact date of the sale or how to take part. Nor does it explain how the item's authenticity was established. These points should become clearer as the auction approaches.
For supporters of the capital club, the ball is in any case a keepsake directly connected to one of the defining nights in Paris Saint-Germain's recent Champions League history.
Your questions, our answers
What ball is being auctioned?
The ball used in the Champions League final, struck by Gabriel during the penalty shootout, is listed in the auction catalogue.
Where was the final played and what was the outcome for PSG?
The final was played at the Puskas Arena in Hungary, and PSG won their second European title in two years.
What happened to the ball after the missed penalty?
The ball ended up in the stands and was caught by a spectator of Portuguese origin.