Paris Saint-Germain: Number 1 in Europe, peak of the world

Forming an empire

A year ago, all of Europe was stunned when PSG crushed Inter Milan 5‑0 in the Champions League final. That was not only the biggest victory in the history of European Cup/Champions League finals, but also marked PSG’s first crowning as the continent’s top tournament winner.

Winning the Champions League is hard, but defending the Champions League crown is many times harder. Yet coach Luis Enrique’s team achieved it by once again standing at the top of Europe this season after defeating the unbeaten Arsenal in the final.

Winning for the first time requires talent plus an element of luck. But defending the crown is a completely different matter. It is a story of class, courage, and stability at the highest level. And PSG has done it. This feat makes them the first team since Real Madrid to accomplish this, thereby confirming the birth of a true football empire in Paris.

There were moments when the Parisian club’s ability to defend the title was questioned due to unexpected results. But those difficult times became the foundation for PSG’s coronation journey this year. Coach Luis Enrique did not change the philosophy he had built at PSG. The Spanish strategist continued to develop the style of play that had taken PSG to the top of Europe a year ago, perfecting his machine. Then PSG gradually accelerated when entering the knockout stages. There, the champion’s mettle began to appear. PSG became increasingly dangerous as the tournament neared its conclusion.

PSG was once the European football club that had everything except the most important title. But now, they are one of the rare teams to have successfully defended the continental crown.

The championship in Budapest also helped PSG complete a historic “quintuple” in the 2025‑2026 season with the titles: UEFA Super Cup, Intercontinental Cup, French Super Cup, Ligue 1, and Champions League. This is considered the most successful season since the Qatari owners took over the club in 2011.

The key to PSG’s success

PSG’s two consecutive Champions League titles were built on talent, squad depth, and tactical sophistication. And it comes from the brilliance of the Spanish strategist Luis Enrique.

At PSG, Luis Enrique is not just a coach, but an architect and leader who has built a true empire in Paris.

Luis Enrique arrived at the Parc des Princes in 2023 with the desire to build a team where collective sacrifice matters more than individual status, where players defend together and also attack together.

Before Enrique arrived, the wealthy French club was seen more as a collection of stars than a team with real strength. They once owned top world superstars like Neymar, Messi, Mbappé… but never touched the summit of Europe. But Enrique transformed the team based on determination, persistence, and absolute belief in the collective.

PSG found the “winning formula” after the biggest stars left. Without Messi, without Mbappé, without Neymar, PSG conquered the Champions League for two consecutive seasons.

Notably, the squad that successfully defended the Champions League title this season does not have many names that create a strong media impact. Most PSG players are not among the stars familiar to the majority of fans.

Two consecutive Champions League titles are proof of PSG’s important transformation. Under coach Luis Enrique, PSG has built a young but courageous collective. An average age of just over 24 makes the French club one of the youngest champions in the tournament’s history. No longer relying on individuals as in the previous period, PSG now possesses formidable collective strength with many stars shining together.

Before winning twice with PSG, coach Luis Enrique led Barcelona to the Champions League title in the 2014‑2015 season. Luis Enrique has joined the group of coaches who have won the Champions League three times: Pep Guardiola (2009, 2011, 2023) and Zinedine Zidane (2016, 2017, 2018).

Currently, the only person with more Champions League titles than those coaches is the current Brazil national team manager Carlo Ancelotti, with five coronations at Real Madrid and AC Milan.