Paris Saint-Germain have won back-to-back UEFA Champions League titles after downing Arsenal via penalties in a tense and tetchy final in Budapest that finished 1-1 after extra-time.
Gunners defender Gabriel, arguably their most important and certainly most reliable player, was the one that suffered the cruel fate of missing the deciding penalty, blasting his spot kick way over the bar when he needed to score to keep the shootout alive.
Eberechi Eze, who came on as a substitute in extra time, dragged his spot-kick wide, and though David Raya did well to save the following penalty from PSG’s Nuno Mendes, Gabriel’s miss meant Arsenal’s wait for a first ever major European trophy continues for at least another year.
“It’s devastating to lose a Champions League final on penalties,” England midfielder Declan Rice said on TNT Sports; Rice was wearing the captain’s armband after his Arsenal teammate Martin Odegaard left the field midway through the second half.
“We tried to take a lot of perspective in how far we’ve come as a group. An incredible season. Our 63rd game in all competitions.
“We’ve given it absolutely everything.
“We took the game to penalties. It’s a lottery. That’s football, you can either win on pens or lose. Some of the best teams in the world have lost on pens. We’re on the receiving end of that tonight.
“I’m obviously gutted but I’m trying to look with a bit of perspective. We’ll be back.”
GABRIEL SENDS HIS PENALTY OVER THE BAR AND PSG ARE CHAMPIONS OF EUROPE!!!
↳ UEFA Champions League. Live & On Demand on Stan Sport.#StanSportAU #UCL pic.twitter.com/7ttspOPG9s — Stan Sport Football (@StanSportFC) May 30, 2026
The moment PSG secured the Champions League title 🎉🥳
↳ UEFA Champions League. Live & Exclusive on Stan Sport.#StanSportAU #UCL #PSG pic.twitter.com/olFix96Odg — Stan Sport Football (@StanSportFC) May 30, 2026
Champions of Europe: Paris Saint-Germain 🏆#UCLfinal pic.twitter.com/MOcgiqlyKz — UEFA Champions League (@ChampionsLeague) May 30, 2026
PSG confirmed their status as the premier club side in world football with their second consecutive Champions League crown, and their manager Luis Enrique seemed to suggest after the game that changes could be coming as he attempts to go for three-in-a-row next season.
“I think today both teams deserved to win, but the way we’ve played the whole season I think we deserve to win the Champions League,” Enrique told TNT Sports. “Next season, we will try to be there. Why not?
“We need to renew the squad, because now we have to play for the position and get new players. These are the things you need to do when you’re a side like Paris Saint-Germain.”
Third Champions League for Luis Enrique 🏆🏆🏆#UCL pic.twitter.com/r0JF6mWtwy — UEFA Champions League (@ChampionsLeague) May 30, 2026
Scores were level at 1-1 after 90 minutes, with Kai Havertz giving Arsenal the lead after just five minutes when he broke down the left side and then fired a brilliant shot into the roof of the net, giving PSG goalkeeper Matvey Safonov no chance.
As many predicted, Arsenal sat back after that and absorbed the pressure from PSG, who had 75% possession over the entire game but weren’t able to generate many clear-cut chances.
They eventually pulled a goal back via the penalty spot in the 65th minute, with Ousmane Dembele burying his spot kick after Cristhian Mosquera was adjudged to have brought down Khvicha Kvaratskhelia in the box. [embedded content]
Arsenal’s players protested vociferously but replays showed the referee made the right decision, and Dembele’s penalty brought the game to life, prompting Gunners manager Mikel Arteta to make a raft of attacking substitutions over the remainder of the second half, bringing on Viktor Gyokeres, Gabriel Martinelle and Noni Madueke to try find another goal.
The Premier League champions thought they had a good shout for a penalty in extra time when Nuno Mendes tangled with Noni Madueke in the box, but the referee waved play on, with Rice and Arteta both earning yellow cards for their protests.
Extra time failed to yield a decisive goal for either side, leading to the dreaded shootout and the cruel finish for Gabriel.