By Ayomide Otitoju
Paris Saint-Germain finally claimed the UEFA Champions League crown on Saturday night with a commanding 5–0 demolition of Inter Milan, ending a 14-year wait for continental glory under Qatari ownership.
The emphatic win at Munich’s Allianz Arena marked the largest margin of victory in a Champions League final and fulfilled the long-cherished ambition of Qatar Sports Investments (QSI), who took over the club in 2011 and have since poured more than €2 billion into building a footballing superpower.
“This is 14 years of hard work,” PSG president Nasser Al-Khelaifi told Canal Plus after lifting the trophy. “People criticised and doubted us. Now, the objective is to win again. We are building something for the future.”
A Shift in Philosophy Brings Reward
The triumph came not with the global superstars of the past—Zlatan Ibrahimovic, Neymar, Kylian Mbappé, or Lionel Messi—but with a vibrant, youthful squad under the astute leadership of coach Luis Enrique, appointed in 2023. The Spaniard has overseen a dramatic cultural shift, focusing on team cohesion and smart recruitment over galactic signings.
“This was always the goal,” said Luis Enrique. “When I joined, I said we wanted to win important trophies. The only one missing was the Champions League.”
Saturday’s victory saw 18-year-old Desire Doué score twice, while João Neves and Khvicha Kvaratskhelia starred in a team whose average starting age was under 25. Only Marquinhos, 31, remains from the earlier QSI era, having joined in 2013.
“I have suffered and grown with this team,” the Brazilian captain said. “My thoughts go out to those who played here before but never won it.”
French History, Gulf Ambition
PSG became only the second French club to lift the trophy after Olympique Marseille’s 1993 triumph. Their win also follows Manchester City’s 2023 success under Abu Dhabi ownership, highlighting the growing dominance of Gulf-backed clubs in European football.
Qatar, whose global football ambitions peaked with hosting the 2022 FIFA World Cup, now has its flagship club reigning over Europe. PSG’s financial might—€800 million in annual revenue and a wage bill nearly double that of Inter—played a part, but this year, it was backed by strategic management and performance.
The Parisian club also swept the domestic treble in France this season and is eyeing a potential fifth trophy as it heads to the FIFA Club World Cup in the United States. They face Atletico Madrid in Los Angeles in two weeks.
The End of Frustration
Before 2025, PSG’s Champions League record had been marred by heartbreak and collapse: a final loss to Bayern Munich in 2020, semi-final exits, and infamous Round-of-16 implosions against Barcelona (2017), Manchester United (2019), and Real Madrid (2022).
But Saturday’s masterclass now defines a new era.
“This was inevitable,” said one UEFA official. “PSG were always going to win it eventually. What’s remarkable is how they’ve redefined themselves in the process.”
In addition to the trophy, PSG will earn over €100 million in prize money, with further riches on offer in the Club World Cup. But for the Qatari owners, Saturday’s win was about validation—of investment, ambition, and a vision that, finally, delivered Europe’s highest footballing honour.
