Today marks a special day for Gabriel dos Santos Magalhães, a Brazilian professional footballer who plays as a centre back for Arsenal and the Brazil national team.
Born on 19th December 1997 in São Paulo, Brazil, he has grown to become one of the most respected defenders in the world of football. Gabriel started his football journey with Avaí FC in Brazil and made his first senior appearances in 2016.
Arsenal took to their official X handle to wish him a happy birthday;
His impressive performances in his home country drew the attention of European clubs and he moved to Lille OSC in France. He had loan stints at Troyes and Dinamo Zagreb before returning to Lille to further develop his game.
Gabriel moved from Lille to Arsenal in September 2020 and quickly scored on his debut in a 3-0 win over Fulham. Since then, he has made a significant impact on the pitch.
He has made 227 appearances at Arsenal helping the team compete at the highest level in both the Premier League and European competitions. Softfootball reported how his 96th minute goal in the Arsenal against Newcastle Premier League match gave them a 2-1 victory and took them to second place in the Premier League table.
This shows how important he has become in Arsenal’s defense, known for his strength and exceptional skills. In June 2025, he signed a new contract with Arsenal that runs till 2029, showing his commitment to the club and its future.
Gabriel dos Santos Magalhães won Arsenal player of the month in October, 2025, marking his stellar performance and how it helped Arsenal stay compact throughout that month.
On the international level, he made his senior debut for Brazil and scored his first goal for his country during 2026 World Cup qualifying matches. As Gabriel turns 28 today, his talent continues to shine and inspire a lot of young players around the world.
