Paris Saint-Germain strengthened their place among European football’s elite after defeating Arsenal on penalties to successfully defend their UEFA Champions League title.
The French champions prevailed 4-3 in the shootout following a 1-1 draw in the final in Budapest, becoming the first club since Real Madrid to retain the trophy.
PSG had won their maiden Champions League title 12 months earlier with a dominant 5-0 victory over Inter Milan and have now secured back-to-back European crowns under manager Luis Enrique.
Historic achievement for French giants
The triumph makes PSG only the second club in the Champions League era to successfully defend the title, following Real Madrid’s run of three consecutive victories between 2016 and 2018.
Across the competition’s 71-year history, PSG have become just the 10th club to win successive European Cup or Champions League titles.
Speaking after the final, Luis Enrique reflected on the achievement.
“I’m mixed. Excitement, fatigue – everything. But this is the best moment of the season,” he said.
“We are still champs, two in a row, it’s amazing.”
The consistency of PSG’s squad has been a key factor in their success, with 10 of the 11 players who started this year’s final also featuring in last season’s victory over Inter Milan.
Goalkeeper Matvey Safonov was the only new starter, replacing Gianluigi Donnarumma, who departed for Manchester City last summer.
Era of dominance continues
Since the start of the 2025-26 campaign, PSG have established themselves as one of the dominant forces in European football.
The club has won eight of the last 10 trophies available to them, missing out only on the FIFA Club World Cup and this season’s French Cup.
Their sustained success has fuelled comparisons with some of the greatest teams in football history and raised the possibility of a third consecutive Champions League title next season.
Only four clubs have previously managed to win three straight European Cups.
PSG chasing even greater history
Despite their recent achievements, PSG remain some distance from Real Madrid’s record of five consecutive European Cup triumphs between 1956 and 1960.
