‘I Wasn’t Afraid’: Lucas Beraldo Opens Up On Scoring The Winning Penalty Vs Arsenal

In the 106th minute, Lucas Beraldo replaced Vitinha at the Puskás Aréna in Budapest. Extra time then drew to a close with the score locked at 1-1.

Speaking to the club’s in-house media, the Brazilian looked back on that fateful shootout. Spot-kicks from Gonçalo Ramos, Désiré Doué, Nuno Mendes, and Achraf Hakimi had already set the stage. The former São Paulo defender treated the high-pressure moment as a genuine opportunity. He felt no burden when stepping up to take his shot.

Stepping up as the 5th taker at 3-3, the left-footed defender wrong-footed David Raya with a composed strike into the opposite corner. Backed by Luis Enrique, he stayed remarkably cool before Gabriel was denied by Matvey Safonov, sealing a 4-3 victory. Such immense mental strength on the European stage underlines the precocious maturity of the 22-year-old.

Following that Champions League triumph, Lucas Beraldo established himself as a valuable option in midfield. That defensive versatility helped Paris Saint-Germain lift the UEFA Super Cup, the Intercontinental Cup, and the Trophée des Champions. A FIFA technical report notably highlighted his remarkable transformation under the Spanish manager.

That steady progression naturally led to a contract extension tying the defender to the capital club until June 2031. Left out of the latest Brazil squad, the number 35 is now focused on the upcoming fixtures at the Parc des Princes against Le Mans (Saturday, October 10) and Manchester City.