Paris-Saint Germain beats Arsenal in shootout to secure second consecutive UEFA Champions League title – USA Today

Paris-Saint Germain defended its UEFA Champions League title, beating Arsenal in a penalty shootout after a match that ended 1-1 to lift the top European club trophy for the second season in a row.
The Ligue 1 side is the first repeat champion since Real Madrid’s threepeat in 2015-16, 2016-17 and 2017-18. Arsenal pushed them to the limit, with the match ending when Gunners defender Gabriel missed the fifth and final shot of the penalty shootout.
It was a dream start for Arsenal in its second-ever UEFA Champions League final, with Kai Havertz sparking a breakaway after an attempted clearance was deflected into his path. His penultimate touch seemed to take him too wide, but he finished from a tight angle to give Arsenal a 6th-minute lead.
PSG spent the rest of the first half trying to get through Arsenal’s staunch center, ending up on the wings but without the ability to create dangerous chances. That changed in the second half, as Khvicha Kvaratskhelia and Ousmane Dembele started wriggling inside. It was those star attackers combining in the 62nd minute that led to the opening goal. Kvaratskhelia was taken down by Cristhian Mosquera, deputizing at right back with first-choice starter Jurriën Timber not fit to play the full match. That earned a penalty kick, which Dembele converted.
Those attackers were off the field by the time extra time started, with neither team able to find another breakthrough in the initial 90 minutes. They were hardly the only players who looked exhausted, with Arsenal’s best chance coming just before the whistle when a shot from Viktor Gyökeres was saved for a corner kick. But the set-piece specialists couldn’t create danger, and the match went to a penalty shootout — the first time since 2016 a Champions League final has been decided by a shootout.
Arsenal failed to put two of its five kicks on target, with Eberechi Eze sending his shot wide of goalkeeper Matvey Safonov’s net, and Gabriel sending that fateful final shot high, putting PSG on the podium again despite Arsenal goalkeeper David Raya making a save during the shootout.
Many players will now head to their national teams for the 2026 World Cup this summer before turning their attention back to their clubs.
PSG will look to join Real Madrid as three-peat champions and add another French trophy to its considerable trophy case.
Arsenal won its first Premier League title since 2003-04 this season but continues its quest for a first European title.
Here’s how we chronicled it live:
PSG is celebrating on the field, but fans back home are also celebrating, and you can hear horns honking at the French Open. Roland Garros is in the same complex as PSG’s Parc des Princes, and supporters will be flocking to the stadium to be together as they rejoice in a UEFA Champions Legue title defense.
Naomi Osaka moved into the Round of 16 there earlier today, and you can keep up with the full French Open with USA TODAY Sports here – where there will not be a defending champion.
The UEFA Champions League final will air in the United States on CBS and stream on Paramount+.
Left-footed Brazilian Lucas Beraldo is the last designated taker for PSG, and you can see why as he tucks the kick into the corner of the net with Raya going the wrong direction.
It’s another Brazilian taking for Arsenal, with Gabriel stepping up. After a bit of a delay getting the ball on the spot, he sends the shot high. PSG has won the Champions League once again! Arsenal fall in the penalty shootout, 4-3.
Next up for PSG, it’s Hakimi who fires off an emphatic shot to Raya’s left as the Spanish goalkeeper dives right
Martinelli is the taker for Arsenal and he also puts in a powerful shot, then celebrates by pumping up the crowd after.
Raya dives to the left to stop Nuno Mendes’ shot that came at knee level, and give Arsenal the chance to even it up. Declan Rice fires to Safonov’s left and puts it in. We’re back level!
Doué goes to Raya’s left, as Raya goes right to convert PSG’s second. But Arsenal can’t match! Eze takes a slow, slow run-up and puts it wide of the net.
Goncalo Ramos goes to goalkeeper’s left as Raya jumps right and Gyökeres puts his past as well.
Well, it all comes down to this. David Raya of Arsenal has had a great game so far, as has PSG’s Matvey Safonov.
This is where the Gunners shine, and Gyökeres has earned it with a long shot.
But nothing comes of it as PSG clears it for penalties. We’re headed to the penalty shootout to decide the UEFA Champions League final!
Both teams look exhausted, as they try to avoid mistakes. Arsenal gets a bit of a chance with a through ball, but the tired legs can’t run onto it.
It’s either penalties – or a moment of Champions League magic.
Barcola tried to head a ball into the box for Ramos, but the goalkeeper is off his line to disrupt the potential connection and Arsenal clears. It’s PSG pushing forward now, especially with Hincapie clearly not at 100 percent.
There is no VAR review, and you can see on the replay that Madueke hooked around Mendes before the contact in the box. Seems like the referee felt both players were grappling, and the VAR agreed.
Now, Arsenal defender Hincapie is down. Teammates are signaling for a change – but Arsenal is out of substitutions! Can the Ecuador international press on?
Arsenal hopes to see the referee point to the spot, but instead he indicates “no, no, no” with his finger. Noni Madueke had gotten into the box and was trying to hold off a defender – I think Nuno Mendes, and the pair both went down.
As PSG attacks, Declan Rice is still speaking with the referee and now Arsenal clears and asks for a video review. PSG plays on, and we’re yet to see a replay. Rice is booked for the protest – Arteta is, too.
Warren Zaire-Emery is in for Fabian Ruiz, so PSG now sets up like this:
Safonov; Hakimi, Marquinhos, Pacho, Mendes, Neves, Vitinha, Zaire-Emery; Doue, Ramos, Barcola
And Luis Enrique still can make three modifications.
Arsenal has used its final sub bringing Eze in for Kai Havertz and Martin Zubimendi in for Lewis-Skelly. They’ll finish with: Raya; Timber, Saliba, Gabriel, Hincapie; Rice, Zubimendi; Gyökeres, Madueke, Martinelli; Eze
And the Gunners have won a corner kick that goes out for another corner.
PSG with another transition chance down the left side, but Barcola couldn’t get his shot right at all, and we’re headed for bonus soccer.
The UEFA Champions League is going to extra time after Havertz’s early opener and Dembele’s 65th-minute penalty.
He’s in real pain and not moving well. Goncalo Ramos is ready to come in, but PSG are playing on as they keep possession. He’s trying to be part of the attack, but also is stuck offside since he can’t really move. Strange scenes at the end of regular time.
The PSG midfielder get a chance to hit it first time after Doue’s run and a light touch toward the D atop the area. It’s a great opportunity, but he hits the top of the net after it goes over the post.
Extra time seems to beckon, though we have six minutes of stoppage time coming.
It’s going back-and-forth now! Every time Arsenal has an exciting moment, as they did from a long throw, PSG use their speed in transition to try to punish them. This time, it’s Doue looking to find the winner, but Raya is off his line to snuff out the chance just before the attacker gets there.
Arsenal comes forward, and after rushing to get the danger cleared, Kvaratskhelia goes in transition and makes a run that ends in his shot getting deflected of the post and out for a corner kick. A huge chance for PSG – and Kvaratskhelia may have felt something in his leg at the end there. Something to monitor.
Safonov has to stretch to get onto a ball in the box that an Arsenal attacker was hoping to run onto. Both teams are playing a bit more buttoned up after the equalizer. No one wants to make the mistake that could lose the Champions league
It was a big ask for Mosquera, who was shown a yellow in the second half, then committed the penalty. He gets the hook with Jurriën Timber making his return to the field from injury for the final half-hour of this match – plus potential extra time.
Viktor Gyökeres also comes in for Ødegaard.
The Ballon d’Or winner confidently sends his shot to David Raya’s right as the goalkeeper dives to his left, and things are equal again in Budapest!
It’s PSG 1-1 Arsenal.
Kvaratskhelia and Dembele link in close quarters, and as Kvaratskhelia gets into the box, he’s taken down by Mosquera. The referee points to the spot. It’ll be reviewed by the VAR, but from my eye it’ll certainly stand as a penalty.
The Morocco international hits the free kick, but instead of a curling wonder into the top corner, it was a low effort that the Spanish goalkeeper easily got on top of.
Arsenal having to work to defend the lead but still up 1-0 without too much of a sweat.
This time it’s Saka going into the book for a rough tackle on Doue. It’s the right decision after a tackle that could’ve injured the French attacker – and on the even of the World Cup, but it also gives PSG a free kick dead-on about 35 yards from the goal. Hakimi and Mendes are over it.
PSG immediately pushes forward but with an attack going forward.
Also, Mosquera is booked for taking far too long to put a throw-in into play. Time-wasting card in the first minute of the second half!
Since Kai Havertz’s early goal, it’s been largely PSG probing and trying to find a way through the Arsenal defense. While they have been able to bend but not break and denied PSG a lot of the center of the field, you get the impression that Luis Enrique may have some modifications up his sleeve that could continue to complicate things for the Gunners.
This one isn’t over by any means. Don’t miss the second half right here.
Nuno Mendes uses his speed to get to the line and into the box past Hincapie, and his cross finds a PSG head but it’s off target. Some scrambling defense helps Arsenal complicate things, and the chance passes.
Nuno Mendes down in the box as well, but he’s fine to push on. PSG keep looking for some sort of space in front of the area, but Rice is clogging the midfield and any time Dembele gets a touch, he’s swarmed by red shirts.
PSG goalkeeper Matvey Safonov is getting medical attention with an ice pack on the back of his head after being involved in a collision. Lucas Chevalier has seen time this seasons, but with Donnarumma out, they don’t want to have to make another change.
Both teams break for a sip of water. Obviously that goal, created almost by accident and with Havertz seeming to have taken it too far and then finishing from an incredible angle, has changed everything. PSG has responded well, perhaps as you’d expect. The reigning European champions aren’t losing their heads, but they will need a breakthrough – and can’t afford another slip-up.
As PSG continues to try and find an answer, there’s a scary moment for Arsenal fans. Bukayo Saka is at the top of the area trying to clear a corner, and it looks to have hit his hand. PSG appeals, but the fact that it appears he kicked it onto his own arm means there’s no handball offense.
PSG is trying to keep its head after conceding, and it’s Kvaratskhelia who nearly gets on the ball in the box – though it’s poked away before he can get a shot off.
What a goal! Kai Havertz takes possession barely in the final third as an attempted Marquinhos ball deflects off Leandro Trossard, and the Germany forward surges forward.
He has a shot at a tight angle but puts it into the roof of the goal! It’s a breakdown for PSG’s defense that could prove very costly as the Gunners are ahead early.
Let’s see who becomes the champion of Europe: PSG for the second time in as many years or Arsenal for the first time ever.
We’ve got The Killers rolling through six minutes of their greatest hits, with Vegas-style showgirls dancing along in tribute to their hometown. Travis Scott was on the pre-match show for CBS’ coverage as well, so the U.S. is well-represented at the final, even if no USMNT players are involved.
Arsenal’s lineup is out, and Jurrien Timber is fit only for the bench. Cristhian Mosquera and Piero Hincapié will start as the outside defenders and have a big day ahead of them. Havertz starts up top.
LINEUP:
Luis Enrique trusts Fabian Ruiz in the middle, starting him over Warren Zaïre-Emery. Notably, this is the same exact starting XI of field players from last year’s final, which PSG won – with Safonov in for Donnarumma in goal the only difference.
PROJECTED LINEUP:
The 2026 Champions League final kicks off at noon ET, which is 6 p.m. local time in Budapest.
PSG routed Inter Milan 5-0 in the 2025 Champions League final, the Parisians’ first time lifting the trophy.
Désiré Doué scored two goals, with Achraf Hakimi, Khvicha Kvaratskhelia and Senny Mayulu also scoring for PSG.
Puskás Aréna in Budapest, Hungary is hosting the 2026 Champions League final. The stadium opened in 2011 and hosted four matches in Euro 2020 as well as the 2023 UEFA Europe League final.
Reigning Ballon d’Or winner Ousmane Dembele confirmed he will play in the final after dealing with a calf issue.
“I wasn’t scared about missing the final,” Dembélé told reporters. “It has been a long season with no rest, going back to the Club World Cup, and the staff has managed that workload well.
“But personally, I am 100% ready to play and I’m hopeful things will go well tomorrow.”
Real Madrid is the only team to repeat in the UEFA Champions League era (rebranded in 1992), but three other clubs had won back-to-back European Cups in the decades prior:
Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta said defender Jurrien Timber is fit and available to start in the Champions League final.
Timber hasn’t played in a match since suffering a groin injury in March – missing Arsenal’s last 14 games across all competitions. His availability is a huge boost for Arsenal, getting one of the world’s best right backs in the lineup to potentially deal with PSG winger Khvicha Kvaratskhelia.
The Georgian has become one of the symbols of Luis Enrique’s PSG side, adding improvisation and menace to a team already overflowing with attacking talent.
Long before Paris, however, there was Napoli.
When the Serie A club signed the then little-known Georgian from Dinamo Batumi in 2022 for around 10 million euros, supporters barely knew how to pronounce his name. Even before his first official appearance, expectations had spiraled into mythology. During his initiation ceremony, Kvaratskhelia sang Opus’s “Live Is Life”, the song forever associated in Naples with Diego Maradona’s famous pre-match warm-up against Bayern Munich in 1989.
Supporters immediately christened him “Kvaradona”.
– Reuters
Manager Mikel Arteta said the Premier League win had not lifted the pressure off his side’s players; rather, it had fueled their fire to avenge their defeat by PSG in last year’s semi-finals.
“The ambition is bigger,” Arteta told reporters on Friday. “We have won and we want the second one… That has to be a platform to reach bigger destinations.”
– Reuters
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