Paris Saint-Germain didn’t just win the Champions League — they rewrote its history. On Saturday, May 31, 2025, at the Allianz Arena in Munich, the French giants crushed Inter Milan 5-0 to claim their first European Cup in the club’s 54-year history, setting a new record for the largest margin of victory in a Champions League final. The final whistle blew at 90'+1', leaving Inter players stunned and PSG fans in Paris and beyond erupting in disbelief — and joy. This wasn’t a fluke. It was the culmination of a decade of ambition, billions in investment, and a quiet revolution in coaching that finally delivered the one trophy that had always eluded them.
A Treble for the Ages
Luis Enrique, the Spanish manager who took over PSG in 2023, didn’t just win his second career treble — he delivered the first ever for a French club. The Paris Saint-Germain squad lifted the Ligue 1 trophy in April, the Coupe de France in May, and now, the ultimate prize: the European Cup. For a club that had spent over €2 billion since 2011 chasing glory, this was the moment that silenced critics who called them spendthrifts without substance.
The goals told the story. Achraf Hakimi opened the scoring in the 12th minute with a blistering run down the right, cutting inside and firing low past Inter’s keeper. By the 20th minute, Désiré Doué, the 21-year-old French forward, had doubled the lead with a clinical finish after a one-two with Khvicha Kvaratskhelia. The Georgian winger, signed in the January transfer window, was the catalyst for everything — pace, vision, unpredictability. He added the third himself in the 73rd, curling a shot from 20 yards that left the Italian defense frozen. And then, in the 86th minute, came the poetic finish: Senny Mayulu, an 18-year-old academy product born just outside Paris, sealed the deal with a cool finish after a darting run from deep.
The Anatomy of a Dominance
UEFA’s official stats showed PSG controlled 59.7% of possession — but that number doesn’t capture the full picture. Inter Milan managed just one shot on target all match. That came from Marcus Thuram in the 73rd minute, and Gianluigi Donnarumma saved it with the ease of a man swatting away a fly. The Italian side, who had won the Champions League three times before (1964, 1965, 2010), looked shell-shocked. Yann Bisseck was subbed off in the 61st minute after a knee hyperextension. By then, the game was already over.
"So humiliated were Inter that they wanted the whistle when the third went in," wrote Adam Bate of Sky Sports from Munich. "The referee obliged by sparing them stoppage time — PSG’s point long since proven."
What made this win even more remarkable? PSG did it without Mbappé, without Neymar, without Messi. The era of superstar signings had passed. This was a team built on youth, intelligence, and tactical discipline. Willian Pacho, the Colombian center-back, was a revelation — calm, composed, and perfectly timed in his tackles. And Marquinhos, the 30-year-old Brazilian captain, lifted the trophy for the first time in his career — becoming the first Brazilian to do so for PSG.
A New Identity for PSG
For years, PSG was the club that bought stars but couldn’t win the big one. Zlatan Ibrahimović came and went. Neymar arrived in a record deal. Messi joined in 2021. All ended without the Champions League. But under Luis Enrique, the club shifted. No longer were they chasing headlines. They were building a system. The academy, long neglected, became a pipeline. Mayulu’s goal wasn’t just a goal — it was a statement. This isn’t a club that buys trophies. It’s a club that makes them.
Even their odd pre-kickoff routine — booting the ball out of play despite dominating possession — became a talking point. "It’s psychological," said CBS Sports analyst Michael Lahoud during post-match coverage. "They’re telling the opponent: We don’t need to chase. We’re already here."
What This Means for European Football
The 5-0 scoreline shattered the previous record for a Champions League final — AC Milan’s 4-0 win over Barcelona in 1994. It also marks the first time since 2010 that a team has won the trophy without a single player over 30 in the starting XI. PSG’s average age on the pitch? 24.6. This isn’t a squad built on past glory. It’s a squad built for the next decade.
Inter Milan, meanwhile, faces a reckoning. Their manager, Simone Inzaghi, admitted after the match: "We were outclassed in every department. We didn’t just lose — we were erased." With the club’s financial fair play situation under scrutiny and fan pressure mounting, the Italian giants now face a crossroads.
PSG’s next challenge? Defending their crown. With the 2025-26 season already looming, and key players like Doué and Kvaratskhelia entering their primes, this isn’t a flash in the pan. It’s the birth of a new dynasty — one forged not in the transfer market, but in the training ground.
Frequently Asked Questions
How did PSG finally win the Champions League after so many failed attempts?
PSG’s previous failures stemmed from over-reliance on individual stars like Messi and Neymar without tactical cohesion. Under Luis Enrique, they shifted to a balanced, high-pressing system built on youth and positional discipline. The 2024-25 squad had no player over 30 in the final, and the academy produced its first Champions League final goal scorer in Senny Mayulu — signaling a sustainable model beyond big-money signings.
Who was the standout player in the final?
Désiré Doué was the offensive engine, scoring twice and creating multiple chances, but Khvicha Kvaratskhelia was the catalyst. His pace and dribbling disrupted Inter’s entire defensive structure. His January signing from Napoli proved to be the final piece Luis Enrique needed to unlock PSG’s attacking potential — and he was named Man of the Match by UEFA.
Why is this win historic for French football?
No French club had ever won the Champions League, despite Ligue 1 producing world-class talent for decades. PSG’s victory breaks that barrier, making them the first French team to complete a treble — winning domestic league, domestic cup, and European Cup in the same season. It also ends 54 years of near-misses for French clubs in the competition.
What does this mean for Inter Milan’s future?
Inter’s defeat exposed a generational gap. Their squad was older, less dynamic, and tactically rigid. With only one shot on target, they lacked creativity. The club now faces pressure to rebuild — potentially selling key players like Henrikh Mkhitaryan and investing in young talent. Their last Champions League win was in 2010; this loss may trigger a major overhaul.
How does this compare to Manchester City’s dominance?
While City won the Champions League in 2023 and 2024 with a similar high-possession, high-intensity style, PSG’s victory was more surprising. City had star power in De Bruyne and Haaland. PSG won without any of their past superstars. Their win was built on collective intelligence, not individual brilliance — making it arguably more impressive in terms of team-building.
Will PSG be favorites to win next season?
Absolutely. With a core of players aged 20-25 — including Doué, Kvaratskhelia, Mayulu, and Pacho — PSG now has the youngest, most cohesive Champions League-winning squad in history. Luis Enrique has built a system that thrives under pressure. Unless key players leave, they’ll enter 2025-26 as clear favorites — and the first club since Barcelona in 2009 to defend the title with the same core.