Back-to-back: PSG beat Arsenal on penalties for second straight Champions League

Back-to-back kings of Europe

Paris Saint-Germain beat Arsenal 1–1 (4–3 on penalties) on Saturday to win the Champions League for the second consecutive year. Kai Havertz thought he'd won it for Arsenal with a late goal, but Ousmane Dembele leveled to force penalties. Kvaratskhelia and Cristhian Mosquera both converted from the spot, and Luis Enrique's side held their nerve to lift the trophy again (1) (2) (3).

This is the biggest achievement in club history. Two Champions League titles in two years, shaped not by galactico signings but by the irreverent ideas of your manager. The collective beat the individual, and the trophy is back in Paris.

Ceferin snubs Marquinhos at the ceremony

An awkward moment marred the trophy presentation: UEFA president Aleksander Ceferin completely forgot PSG captain Marquinhos during the medal handouts. Video footage shows Ceferin handing medals to other players while bypassing the skipper before someone intervened (4).

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It's the kind of oversight that stings, even on a night of pure joy. Marquinhos, the man who has anchored this defense through everything, literally overlooked by the man running European football.

Marquinhos eyes historic double

Marquinhos could become only the second captain ever to lift both the Champions League and the World Cup in the same calendar year. Franz Beckenbauer is the only man to have done it before. With Brazil among the favorites for the 2026 World Cup, your captain has a genuine shot at football immortality (7).

He already has one hand on history. The other waits this summer.

The post-Mbappé era looks just fine

PSG have now won 10 of 11 finals since 2022. The dominance started after Kylian Mbappé's departure, and the narrative has shifted completely: this is a team built on collective strength, not one superstar. Daniel Riolo called the club's evolution "absolutely incredible" after the final (5) (6) (9).

You don't need a single talisman when the entire squad plays like one.

Fan reactions

The celebration is real. Fans have been flooding social media with praise for Beraldo, who stepped up in his new midfield role and buried his penalty with ice-cold composure. Desire Doué credited Jesus Christ for the victory, saying he prayed for the Champions League and it happened. Meanwhile, Warren Zaire-Emery became the youngest player ever to win two Champions League titles, at just 20 years old. See the celebrations here.

Sources

  • 1. ge.globo.com — Análise: PSG deixa superestrelas de lado e é bicampeão moldado pelas ideias irreverentes de Luis Enrique
  • 2. fcupdate.nl — Nieuwe spelregel: waarom Arsenal géén rode kaart kreeg tegen Paris Saint-Germain
  • 3. n-tv.de — Frankreich in CL-Ekstase: Legendäres PSG wird "Jahrhunderte Fußballgeschichte prägen"
  • 4. nieuwsblad.be — VIDEO. Opvallend: UEFA-voorzitter Ceferin vergeet PSG-aanvoerder Marquinhos compleet tijdens prijsuitreiking Champions League-finale
  • 5. rmcsport.bfmtv.com — "Une évolution absolument incroyable", Riolo souligne le changement de dimension et d'image du PSG
  • 6. fotomac.com.tr — Şampiyon PSG
  • 7. ge.globo.com — Marquinhos pode ser 2º capitão da história a ganhar Copa do Mundo e Champions no mesmo ano
  • 9. repubblica.it — Il Psg domina da quando ha venduto Mbappé
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