PSG Retain Champions League Title After Penalty Shootout Victory Over Arsenal

French champions become the first club from France to win back-to-back European titles as Arsenal’s wait for a first Champions League crown continues.

BUDAPEST, Hungary — Paris Saint-Germain retained the UEFA Champions League title after defeating Arsenal 4-3 on penalties following a 1-1 draw after extra time in Saturday’s final at the Puskás Aréna. PSG became the first French club to win consecutive European Cups and only the second side this century to successfully defend the trophy.
Luis Enrique’s side recovered from an early setback before prevailing in a tense shootout that ended Arsenal’s hopes of securing the club’s first Champions League title.

Kai Havertz gave Arsenal an early lead, but Ousmane Dembélé equalised for PSG before the match remained deadlocked through extra time. Neither side could find a winner despite periods of sustained pressure and chances at both ends.

The final was ultimately decided from the penalty spot. PSG converted four of their five penalties through Gonçalo Ramos, Désiré Doué, Achraf Hakimi and Lucas Beraldo. Arsenal scored through Viktor Gyökeres, Declan Rice and Gabriel Martinelli but missed two attempts, with Eberechi Eze firing wide before Gabriel’s decisive miss handed the trophy to the French champions.
David Raya briefly revived Arsenal’s hopes by saving Nuno Mendes’ penalty, but Beraldo restored PSG’s advantage before Gabriel sent his effort over the crossbar.

PSG Continue European Dominance

The victory secured PSG’s second consecutive Champions League title and further strengthened the club’s position among Europe’s leading teams.

For Luis Enrique, the triumph marked a third European Cup or Champions League success as a manager, placing him alongside some of the competition’s most successful coaches. BBC Sport reported that PSG became only the second club this century to retain the trophy after Real Madrid’s run of three consecutive titles between 2016 and 2018.

PSG forward Désiré Doué said the team remained determined to build on its success. “We are so proud. We are a happy and grateful team,” he told TNT Sports after the match. “We have to stay humble. We are going to work again. We are hungry and want more titles.” The French champions completed another outstanding European campaign and demonstrated the resilience that has become a hallmark of Enrique’s side.

Arsenal Fall Short Again

For Arsenal, the defeat was a painful end to a campaign that had raised hopes of a first Champions League triumph. Mikel Arteta’s side had reached the final after an impressive run through the competition and entered the match seeking to become European champions for the first time in the club’s history. Arsenal lost only once in the tournament before the final and matched PSG for long periods in Budapest.

The narrow margin of defeat was reflected in the shootout.

After Eze’s miss gave PSG an early advantage, Arsenal remained in contention until Gabriel’s fifth penalty sailed over the crossbar, sparking celebrations among PSG players and supporters.

Former Arsenal defender Matt Upson described the miss as a “cruel blow” for Gabriel after a strong overall performance from the Brazilian centre-back.

PSG captain Marquinhos consoles Arsenal's Gabriel after the final whistle before joining his teammates' celebrations.

One of the most widely shared moments after the final whistle came when PSG captain Marquinhos crossed the pitch to console Gabriel before joining his teammates’ celebrations. The pair are international teammates with Brazil, and the gesture drew praise from commentators and supporters as an example of sportsmanship at the highest level.

What It Means

For PSG, the victory confirms the club’s status as the dominant force in European football and caps another successful season under Luis Enrique. For Arsenal, attention will now turn to next season and whether Arteta’s side can build on a campaign that brought them to the brink of continental success. Despite the disappointment, Arsenal’s run to the final underlined the club’s return to the top tier of European football, even if the wait for a first Champions League title goes on.

Back-to-back 🏆🏆

Your 2025/26 Champions League winners: Paris Saint-Germain ❤️💙
#UCLfinal pic.twitter.com/xltuTOP2VB
— UEFA Champions League (@ChampionsLeague) May 30, 2026