Ibrahim Diaz found himself at the center of a wide media controversy after missing a penalty with a "Panenka" style shot during the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations final against Senegal, which opened the floodgates of criticism towards the Moroccan player.

Just before Paris Saint-Germain's match against Sporting Lisbon in the Champions League, the discussion about the missed penalty dominated the press conference, as journalists questioned the boldness of taking such penalties in major matches, especially by players from the Parisian team.

While some Paris Saint-Germain players preferred to avoid commenting on the incident, the team's head coach, Luis Enrique, broke his silence and chose to defend Díaz firmly, refusing to hold the player responsible for the defeat or to question his character.

The Spanish coach emphasized that taking a penalty kick in the "Panenka" style reflects the player's courage, stressing that those who do not dare to take responsibility in crucial moments cannot understand the nature of such decisions on the field.

Enrique added that mistakes remain an integral part of football, especially in final matches, pointing out that history is full of great players who missed crucial penalty kicks, without that diminishing their value or status.

Without naming Díaz directly, the Paris Saint-Germain coach emphasized that the true character of great players is revealed in such situations, considering that the courage to try is more important than the fear of failure.

This explicit support from Luis Enrique comes at a time when Ibrahim Diaz is still facing criticism following the Africa Cup of Nations final, amid divided opinions between those who see the attempt as an ill-considered risk and those who view it as an expression of confidence and the character of a great player.