PSG Champions of Europe
Paris Saint-Germain have etched their name into football history, clinching their first-ever UEFA Champions League title with a breathtaking 5-0 demolition of Inter Milan in Munich. The victory, the most lopsided in the competition’s 70-year history, crowned PSG as the 24th unique champions of Europe and showcased the brilliance of Luis Enrique’s youthful squad, led by the sensational 19-year-old Désiré Doué. Interestingly, PSG’s win comes at a time when the Parisians have no big names like Lionel Messi, Neymar Jr., Kylian Mbappe and Zlatan Ibrahimovic associated with them now.
The Allianz Arena witnessed a masterclass from the French side, who dismantled a seasoned Inter outfit with ruthless precision. Achraf Hakimi set the tone early, scoring against his former club in the 12th minute. Vitinha’s exquisite pass found Doué, who cleverly squared for Hakimi to tap into an open net. The Moroccan full-back refrained from celebrating, but PSG’s intent was clear. Eight minutes later, Doué turned from provider to scorer. Ousmane Dembélé’s pinpoint delivery allowed the teenager to chest the ball down and fire a shot that deflected off Federico Dimarco, leaving Inter goalkeeper Yann Sommer helpless.
Inter, who had trailed for just 17 minutes across their 14-match campaign, were shell-shocked. Despite a brief resurgence before half-time, their efforts were limited to wayward headers from Francesco Acerbi and Marcus Thuram. PSG, by contrast, were relentless. The second half saw them elevate their game further, with Vitinha and Dembélé orchestrating proceedings. Just past the hour mark, Vitinha’s incisive run and exchange with Dembélé freed Doué, who drilled a low shot into the bottom corner for his second goal. The 19-year-old’s composure belied his age, earning him the PlayStation® Player of the Match award.
Ten minutes later, Dembélé claimed his second assist, setting up Khvicha Kvaratskhelia to slot home PSG’s fourth. The rout was completed in the 87th minute by another 19-year-old, substitute Senny Mayulu, who combined with Bradley Barcola before smashing a strike off the post and in. It was a record-breaking fifth goal, surpassing any previous margin in a European Cup final. Goalkeeper Gianluigi Donnarumma ensured a clean sheet with a stunning save to deny Thuram, underlining PSG’s dominance in every department.
For PSG, this triumph marks the culmination of over a decade of ambition fuelled by Qatari investment. It erases the pain of their 2020 final loss to Bayern Munich and establishes them as only the second French club, after Marseille in 1993, to lift Europe’s premier trophy. Luis Enrique, who previously won the Champions League with Barcelona in 2015, hailed the achievement: “Since day one, I wanted to win big trophies. Paris had never won this, and we’ve done it for our fans.” Doué, overcome with emotion, simply called the night “incredible.”
Inter, meanwhile, were left to rue a rare off-day. Manager Simone Inzaghi graciously conceded PSG’s superiority: “They deserved to win. We’re disappointed, but our journey to this point was remarkable.” Midfielder Nicolò Barella echoed the sentiment, praising PSG’s energy and acknowledging Inter’s inability to match them. The Nerazzurri, trophyless this season after narrowly missing the Serie A title, face questions about their ageing squad’s future.
Teams with the Most UEFA Champions League Titles
Real Madrid dominate the UEFA Champions League with an unmatched 15 titles, cementing their status as Europe’s most successful club. Their golden era began in the 1950s, winning five consecutive titles from 1956 to 1960, driven by legends like Alfredo Di Stefano and Ferenc Puskás. Further triumphs came in 1966, 1998, 2000, and 2002, with their modern dynasty flourishing under Zinedine Zidane and Carlo Ancelotti, securing victories in 2014, 2016, 2017, 2018, 2022, and 2024. This remarkable haul reflects their consistent excellence across decades. AC Milan follow with seven titles, their victories spanning 1963 to 2007. The Rossoneri shone in the late 1980s under Arrigo Sacchi, winning in 1989 and 1990, and later under Carlo Ancelotti in 2003 and 2007, with the 1994 triumph over Barcelona a standout. Liverpool and Bayern Munich each boast six titles, with Liverpool’s iconic wins including the 2005 miracle in Istanbul and 2019, while Bayern’s successes, from 1974-76 to 2020, highlight their enduring power.
Barcelona have claimed five titles, starting with their 1992 breakthrough under Johan Cruyff, followed by a golden era under Pep Guardiola in 2009 and 2011, and further wins in 2006 and 2015. Ajax’s four titles, won between 1971 and 1995, reflect their Total Football legacy under Rinus Michels and a young Johan Cruyff, with their 1995 upset against Milan a modern highlight. Manchester United and Inter Milan each have three titles, with United’s victories in 1968, 1999, and 2008, and Inter’s in 1964, 1965, and 2010 under José Mourinho. Juventus, Benfica, Chelsea, Nottingham Forest, and Porto each hold two titles, with memorable moments like Chelsea’s 2012 penalty shootout and Forest’s back-to-back wins in 1979-80. Single-title winners include Celtic (1967), Marseille (1993), Borussia Dortmund (1997), and PSG, who joined the elite with their 2025 triumph, marking a historic moment for French football.
Among Europe’s top seven football leagues—English, German, French, Spanish, Italian, Portuguese, and Dutch—several prominent clubs have yet to win the UEFA Champions League despite their domestic success. In the English Premier League, Arsenal, Tottenham Hotspur, Newcastle United, Everton, and West Ham United stand out, with Arsenal’s closest attempt being their 2006 final loss to Barcelona. From Germany’s Bundesliga, Bayer Leverkusen, RB Leipzig, Wolfsburg, Schalke 04, and Eintracht Frankfurt have never lifted the trophy, with Leverkusen reaching the 2002 final but falling to Real Madrid. In France’s Ligue 1, AS Monaco, Lyon, Saint-Étienne, Nice, and Lille are notable non-winners, with Monaco’s 2004 final defeat to Porto their best effort. Spain’s La Liga sees Atlético Madrid, Sevilla, Valencia, Athletic Bilbao, and Villarreal still chasing the title, with Atlético losing finals in 1974, 2014, and 2016. Italy’s Serie A includes Napoli, Roma, Fiorentina, Lazio, and Atalanta, none of whom have clinched the Champions League, though Roma reached the 1984 final. In Portugal’s Primeira Liga, Sporting CP, Braga, Boavista, Vitória Guimarães, and Belenenses have no titles, while in the Netherlands’ Eredivisie, AZ Alkmaar, Twente, Utrecht, Vitesse, and Roda JC have also come up short.
