Head coach Luis Enrique had openly declared his powerful ambition: to achieve the unprecedented feat of winning the Champions League twice in a row. Following a thrilling semi-final victory over fellow contenders Bayern Munich (5-4, 1-1), it became evident that this PSG squad possessed an an unquenchable hunger for glory, determined to etch their name into football’s annals. Enrique’s vision, articulated at the close of last season, was clear: to establish a dominant PSG era in European football. His players, even after a less-than-perfect final performance, clearly embraced this challenge.

Despite falling behind early to Kai Havertz’s sixth-minute strike, the Parisian side demonstrated remarkable resilience. Ousmane Dembélé leveled the score with a penalty in the 65th minute, setting the stage for a dramatic conclusion. The decisive moment arrived at the very end of the night in Budapest, when Arsenal’s Gabriel sent his penalty kick soaring over the crossbar during the shootout.

This penalty shootout victory marks the sixth consecutive win for teams under Luis Enrique’s guidance, showcasing an astonishing 100% success rate in such high-pressure situations, including four official competition finals this year alone.

Achieving consecutive European titles is an exceptionally rare occurrence in modern football. Since the inception of the current Champions League format in 1993, only Zinedine Zidane’s Real Madrid managed to accomplish this, securing three successive trophies between 2016 and 2018. Now, Paris Saint-Germain proudly joins this elite Spanish club, celebrating their first two titles in 2025 and 2026.

Luis Enrique: the master tactician

Over the past two years, the capital club has exuded a palpable sense of composure and confidence. Despite facing a relentless challenge from RC Lens throughout the Ligue 1 season – ultimately clinching the domestic title in the penultimate match – Paris displayed immense heart to secure this latest European crown, a testament to Luis Enrique’s third season at the helm.

The exhilarating night in Munich on May 31, 2025, marked their inaugural triumph. The victory in Budapest on May 30, 2026, will be equally unforgettable for Parisians, representing the culmination of an arduous journey. This season presented numerous obstacles, including a minimal inter-season break due to the Club World Cup, a string of injuries, and navigating through playoff rounds to reach the Round of 16. Once past these initial hurdles, PSG truly embodied their status as reigning European champions, sweeping aside Chelsea (5-2, 3-0) and Liverpool (2-0, 2-0) before demonstrating their formidable strength against Bayern Munich (5-4, 1-1).

Dembélé and Kvaratskhelia: the formidable duo

Ousmane Dembélé and Khvicha Kvaratskhelia, pivotal figures in their Munich victory, once again spearheaded the Parisian attack, even if their individual final performances weren’t flawless. Dembélé experienced an unusual season, adapting to a false nine role while battling recurring hamstring and calf injuries. Nevertheless, he consistently delivered when on the pitch, tallying seven goals and two assists in 12 Champions League appearances, alongside 10 goals and seven assists in 22 Ligue 1 matches, where he was deservedly named the 2025 Ballon d’Or winner and best player for the second consecutive time.

This year, the Georgian star, Khvicha Kvaratskhelia, could realistically contend for the Ballon d’Or himself. He proved just as instrumental as Dembélé, acting as a crucial catalyst for the reigning European champions in the premier club competition, boasting an impressive 10 goals and 6 assists in 15 matches. Notably, he frequently broke deadlocks in perilous situations for PSG. Coming off the bench, he scored a brace to overcome Chelsea at the Parc des Princes, then sealed the tie in the return leg at Stamford Bridge. However, the true strength of this Paris Saint-Germain side lies not merely in individual brilliance, but in a cohesive collective that has dominated European football for two years running.