This has been a controversy that raged through Herodotus, Thucydides and Plutarch.
For those interested, I would suggest reading Plutarch’s criticism of Herodotus: “On the malice of Herodotus”. He basically calls Herodotus a “barbarian lover”.
As well as this paper
https://www.academia.edu/6636271/The_Silence_of_Thucydides_The_Battle_of_Marathon_and_Athenian_Pride
Regardless of who’s interpretation of the battle we know this for a fact; the Persians lost.
“we know this for a fact; the Persians lost.”
Love Herodotus precisely because he tells what people thought, instead of “the truth”.