Paris Saint-Germain have successfully defended their UEFA Champions League title, defeating Arsenal F.C. 4-3 on penalties after a gripping 1-1 draw in the 2025/26 final in Budapest.
The victory secures a second consecutive European crown for Paris Saint-Germain F.C. and further cements the club’s place among Europe’s elite.
Arsenal made the perfect start to the final when Kai Havertz struck in the sixth minute, giving the Premier League champions an early advantage and evoking memories of his decisive goal in the 2021 Champions League final.
PSG gradually grew into the contest and found an equalizer in the 65th minute when Ousmane Dembélé calmly converted a penalty, setting up a tense finish.
Despite chances for both sides, neither team could find a winner during the remainder of normal time or extra time, forcing the match into a penalty shootout.
In the decisive shootout, PSG held their nerve as Gonçalo Ramos, Désiré Doué, Achraf Hakimi, and Lucas Beraldo all converted their spot kicks.
For Arsenal, the shootout ended in heartbreak. Eberechi Eze missed the target, while defender Gabriel Magalhães sent his effort over the crossbar, allowing PSG to clinch the trophy.
Scenes of celebration erupted among PSG players and supporters after the winning penalty, while Arsenal’s players were left devastated after falling just short of a first Champions League title since reaching previous finals.
A touching moment followed the final whistle as PSG captain Marquinhos was seen consoling Arsenal defender Gabriel during the post-match celebrations.
Midfielder Vitinha was named Man of the Match after an outstanding performance in midfield, controlling possession and dictating the tempo for much of the encounter.
The triumph marks another historic milestone for PSG, while Arsenal will be left reflecting on a campaign that came agonizingly close to ending with European glory.
