Munich: Paris Saint-Germain (PSG) has finally achieved their long-obsessed goal of winning the UEFA Champions League, demolishing Inter Milan 5–0 in a historic and emotionally charged final. The win comes after more than a decade of near-misses and painful collapses, marking a triumphant breakthrough for the French club.
Since Qatar Sports Investments acquired the club in 2011, PSG has qualified for the knockout stages 12 times, only to be met with heartbreak each year. But on this, their 13th attempt, the French champions were unstoppable and finally triumphant.
From the first whistle, it was clear PSG had come to claim their destiny. Inter Milan, despite entering the final with confidence and pedigree, were overwhelmed from the start.
Your 2025 UEFA Champions League winners: Paris Saint-Germain 🏆#UCLfinal pic.twitter.com/4u5hxiJCpd
— UEFA Champions League (@ChampionsLeague) May 31, 2025
The match’s tone was set early when Achraf Hakimi opened the scoring, finishing a brilliantly orchestrated move initiated by the ever-influential Vitinha. Hakimi’s run into the six-yard box was timed perfectly after receiving the ball from 19-year-old Désiré Doué, who had spun away from his marker with ice-cold precision.
PSG’s dominance grew with every passing minute. Their high press smothered Inter, goalkeeper Yann Sommer under constant pressure, and the positional rotations and swift passing made Enrique’s team nearly impossible to contain.
The second goal, which arrived before the 25th minute, followed an end-to-end counter. Willian Pacho snuffed out an Inter attack and quickly launched forward through Khvicha Kvaratskhelia and Ousmane Dembélé, who found Doué again. His shot, deflected off Federico Dimarco, left Sommer stranded, and Inter gasping.
Inter’s few chances, a Francesco Acerbi flick from a set piece, a Marcus Thuram header just wide, and a heavy touch from Nicolò Barella when through on goal, offered flickers of hope, but PSG’s grip on the game only tightened.
Vitinha, at the heart of everything, continued to dazzle. In the second half, he combined with Dembélé, who backheeled smartly to carve open the Inter defence once more. Vitinha slid in a third for Doué, who coolly converted for his second of the night and PSG’s third, extinguishing any lingering resistance.
Kvaratskhelia made it four after yet another fast break, while substitute Bradley Barcola twisted Francesco Acerbi inside out, nearly adding a fifth himself before eventually teeing up fellow 19-year-old Senny Mayulu for the final goal. The 5–0 scoreline not only sealed the title but marked the widest margin of victory ever in a Champions League final.
The result capped a glorious treble-winning season for PSG, league, cup, and now continental champions. After years of expensive squads and managerial changes, it was Luis Enrique’s dynamic young side that finally delivered the grail.
The emotional weight of the night was further amplified when fans unveiled a touching tribute to Enrique’s daughter Xana, who died of cancer in 2019 at just nine years old. The banner read, ‘Always in my heart.’
As thousands of PSG supporters spilled onto the pitch in euphoric celebration, a strong but calm police line ensured order. The atmosphere remained joyful, with fans pinching themselves at the reality of their team’s performance and result. Some grabbed goal nets as souvenirs; others shed tears of joy.
The contrast between the two clubs was stark: PSG’s youthful brilliance and lavish spending against Inter’s experience and measured investments. While PSG fielded a squad with only two starters costing less than €30 million, Inter’s most expensive players under Simone Inzaghi, Benjamin Pavard and Davide Frattesi, cost just over that.
Ultimately, Inter’s dreams of revenge for their 2023 final loss to Manchester City and their once-hopeful treble bid lay in ruins. They leave the season empty-handed and shellshocked. PSG, meanwhile, march forward, no longer haunted by their Champions League past, but celebrated as champions at last.
ALSO READ | Faizan Zaki wins 2025 Scripps National Spelling Bee title
