The image that will endure is Marquinhos descending the steps of the plane at Le Bourget, the Champions League trophy in his hands, Nasser Al-Khelaifi a step behind him (9). Paris Saint-Germain are back-to-back European champions. A 1–1 draw in Budapest, a 4–3 penalty shootout, and a noise that traveled from the Puskás Aréna to every arrondissement.
This was not a fluent final. Ousmane Dembélé gave PSG the lead, but Arsenal equalised and took the game deep into extra time before the shootout delivered the moment that defines dynasties (2). PSG held their nerve. All four penalty takers converted. Gianluigi Donnarumma did the rest.
Five in the Team of the Season
UEFA named its Champions League Team of the Season on Sunday and PSG dominated the selection: Marquinhos, Nuno Mendes, Vitinha, Khvicha Kvaratskhelia, and Dembélé all made the cut (3). That is not a flattering tally, it is a structural statement. No club placed more players. The spine of this team, from captain to creative edge, has been recognised as the competition's benchmark.
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The noise from the other side
Mikel Arteta complained about a penalty claim in extra time (10). Declan Rice dismissed the shootout as "a lottery" (13). Familiar refrains after a final defeat, but they cannot obscure the bigger story. Sir Alex Ferguson, a man who knows what sustained European excellence looks like, privately messaged Al-Khelaifi. The reported line: PSG were "the team that played football" (6). That carries more weight than any sour grapes from north London.
A city erupts, and burns
Sunday's planned celebrations are vast: a Champ-de-Mars fan gathering, the Élysée reception, a Parc des Princes party (1). But Saturday night's spontaneous eruptions came with a cost. Over 280 arrests in Paris, seven police officers injured (16). The club's triumph is genuine. So is the chaos that trails it.
The market opens
Luis Campos now pivots to the summer window (7). Lucas Chevalier's future is uncertain, with an unexpected replacement reportedly identified (8). RB Leipzig defender Yan Diomande is a name to track, though City and Liverpool are circling (12). The double European champion has leverage in every negotiation now. Every agent knows it.
What to watch
The immediate focus is the parade and the final round of celebrations. Beyond the confetti, the transfer window opens properly this week. Expect PSG to move quickly: Chevalier's situation will clarify, and the first concrete approaches should land. The club has never been in a stronger bargaining position. The question is no longer whether PSG can attract elite talent. It is how ruthlessly they choose to refresh a squad that just conquered Europe again.
