Paris Saint-Germain’s Brazilian defender #05 Marquinhos (C) lifts the trophy as he celebrates with teammates winning the UEFA Champions League final football match between Paris Saint-Germain (PSG) and Arsenal FC on the Puskas Arena in Budapest on May 30, 2026. (Photo by FRANCK FIFE / AFP)
Paris Saint-Germain claimed back-to-back Champions League triumphs with a 4-3 shoot-out win over Arsenal following a 1-1 draw after beyond regular time on Saturday, with Eberechi Eze and Gabriel missing from the spot.
Mikel Arteta’s Premier League champions showed great resilience to take the sport beyond 120 minutes in Budapest, but fell to a second final defeat, 20 years after their first against Barcelona in 2006.
Luis Enrique’s side became only the second besides Real Madrid to win the competition in consecutive years within the Champions League era.
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CHAMPIONS AGAIN 🏆 pic.twitter.com/thXe0KdHDP
— Paris Saint-Germain (@PSG_English) May 30, 2026
“It’s even larger because we knew of the difficulties of playing against Arsenal, and for us as a team and a city it’s incredible to win it,” Luis Enrique told broadcaster Canal Plus.
PSG’s first triumph was 55 years within the making, 14 of those under Qatari ownership, the second could start what they hope is a period of dominance and dynasty-building.
“It was Real Madrid and now it’s us too,” PSG midfielder Fabian Ruiz told Movistar.
“They defended all through the sport and football is fair… today the fitting team won.”
As soon as the ultimate whistle blew, the Parc des Princes – packed to capability and where the match was shown on six giant screens – erupted in celebration.
Fireworks lit up the pitch as greater than 48,000 PSG supporters chanted “Champions of Europe” and “back-to-back”.
READ: Paris Saint-Germain returns to Champions League final
Cheers, automobile horns and the sound of firecrackers also echoed through the streets of the French capital. Nearly 100,000 persons are expected to attend a victory parade near the Eiffel Tower on Sunday.
Luis Enrique rebuilt the team swiftly and efficiently, removing the club’s superstars and constructing a cohesive and committed attacking side, able to shredding opposition with terrifying pace.
It was the Spaniard’s third Champions League triumph, making him certainly one of only five coaches to finish a hat-trick — the primary coming with Barcelona in 2015.
For some time it looked unlikely as Kai Havertz powered Arsenal ahead after six minutes but Ousmane Dembele’s penalty midway through the second half took a good game to beyond regular time and ultimately spot-kicks.
“It’s gutting, it’s devastating to lose the Champions League final on penalties,” Arsenal midfielder Declan Rice told TNT Sports.
“Giving it absolutely the whole lot up until this point, we took the sport to penalties and it’s a lottery.”
Arsenal will still have a victory parade on Sunday after landing the English title for the primary time in 22 years, but it can be tinged with regret after defeat in Hungary.
READ: ‘Magical’ Dembele brace fires Paris Saint-Germain top in France
Luis Enrique chosen 10 of the side which demolished Inter Milan 5-0 in last 12 months’s final as PSG finally lifted the trophy they so badly craved.
In Arsenal’s only prior final 20 years ago German goalkeeper Jens Lehmann was sent off within the opening stages as they were defeated.
They got off to a much better start on the Puskas Arena, with Lehmann’s compatriot Havertz firing the Gunners ahead after just six minutes.
Havertz, who scored the winning goal in Chelsea’s 2021 Champions League final victory, couldn’t imagine his luck after Marquinhos’s attempted clearance hit Leandro Trossard and bounced into his path.
The forward galloped into open space behind PSG’s defence and from a good angle rifled into the roof of the online.
It was the worst possible start for PSG against a miserly Arsenal side who had conceded just six goals on the run to the ultimate.
Their disciplined defending kept the Parisians at bay with consummate ease, as Luis Enrique’s side controlled the ball but couldn’t break through Arsenal’s defensive bastion.
Gabriel, who later turned Arsenal’s villain, made a wonderful last-ditch challenge to select Khvicha Kvaratskhelia’s pocket. The dynamic Georgian was not allowed room to breathe.
Fighting back
PSG were reduced to frustrated pot-shots from distance and after the break moved the ball quicker to attempt to destabilise Arsenal’s rearguard.
Arsenal goalkeeper David Raya saved from Achraf Hakimi’s free-kick before Kvaratskhelia finally had his say. After the winger’s slick one-two with Dembele, Cristhian Mosquera bundled him down within the box.
Dembele sent Raya the improper way with a low penalty to level — their forty fifth goal of the competition, matching the all-time record.
PSG almost set a brand new one when Kvaratskhelia hurtled down the left but hit the post, certainly one of several probabilities as Arsenal drained.
In beyond regular time the Gunners pleaded for a penalty of their very own when substitute Noni Madueke went down under pressure from Nuno Mendes, nevertheless it would have been harsh on the PSG defender.
To a shoot-out it went, with PSG confident after already claiming three trophies on penalties this season, and winning their last five.
Arsenal blinked first, with Eze firing wide but Raya then saved from PSG’s Mendes. Declan Rice drilled home to level at 2-2.
After Lucas Beraldo put the Ligue 1 winners 4-3 up, Arsenal defender Gabriel was left with the fifth kick for his side and lashed it high over the crossbar handy PSG the trophy.