On May 31, 2025, Paris Saint-Germain (PSG) etched their name into the annals of football history with a resounding 5-0 victory over Inter Milan in the UEFA Champions League final at the Allianz Arena in Munich, Germany.
We thought PSG would win in our prediction, but not that emphatically.
This triumph was not merely a win but a seismic event in European football, marking PSG’s first-ever Champions League title and shattering records with its sheer dominance. The victory carried profound significance, signaling the resurgence of French football on the global stage, redefining PSG’s identity, and setting new benchmarks in the sport. This piece explores the historical weight of PSG’s 2025 triumph, the firsts it achieved, the factors behind such a convincing win, and its broader implications for French and European football, grounded in verifiable facts and enriched with data tables.
A Landmark Victory: The Firsts of PSG’s 2025 Triumph
PSG’s 5-0 win was a tapestry of historic firsts, each adding a layer of significance to the achievement. For a club long criticized for failing to translate domestic dominance into European glory, this victory was a watershed moment.
- First Champions League Title for PSG: Despite their financial might and star-studded squads since Qatar Sports Investments (QSI) took over in 2011, PSG had never won the Champions League before 2025. Their closest attempt was a 1-0 loss to Bayern Munich in the 2020 final. The 2025 victory ended a 14-year quest under QSI, fulfilling the ambitions of chairman Nasser Al-Khelaifi, who called it “a dream for Paris, for France, for football.”
- First French Club to Win Since 1993: PSG became only the second French club to lift the Champions League trophy, following Olympique de Marseille’s 1993 triumph over AC Milan. This 32-year gap underscored the rarity of French success in Europe’s premier club competition, making PSG’s win a national milestone.
- Largest Winning Margin in a Champions League Final: The 5-0 scoreline set a new record for the most lopsided victory in a Champions League final, surpassing previous benchmarks like AC Milan’s 4-0 wins over Steaua București (1989) and Barcelona (1994). The table below highlights this historic margin:
| Year | Final | Scoreline | Winning Margin |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | PSG vs. Inter Milan | 5-0 | 5 goals |
| 1994 | AC Milan vs. Barcelona | 4-0 | 4 goals |
| 1989 | AC Milan vs. Steaua București | 4-0 | 4 goals |
| 2012 | Bayern Munich vs. Chelsea | 1-1 (4-3 pens) | 0 goals |
- First Continental Treble for a French Club: PSG’s 2025 Champions League win completed a continental treble, alongside Ligue 1 and the Coupe de France. No French club had ever achieved this, elevating PSG above Marseille’s 1993 legacy, which included only the European Cup and Ligue 1.
- Youngest Scorers in a Final: PSG’s Désiré Doué (19 years, 362 days) and Senny Mayulu (19 years, 14 days) became the youngest and second-youngest players to score in a Champions League final, respectively. Doué also became the youngest to score and assist in a final, underlining the youth-driven nature of PSG’s triumph.
- First Final Without England, Spain, or Germany Since 2004: The 2025 final was the first since Porto vs. Monaco in 2004 to feature no teams from England, Spain, or Germany, signaling a shift in European football’s power dynamics.
These firsts collectively positioned PSG’s victory as a transformative moment, not just for the club but for the sport’s historical narrative.
The Anatomy of a 5-0 Demolition: Why So Convincing?
The 5-0 scoreline was no fluke; it was the culmination of tactical brilliance, individual excellence, and Inter Milan’s capitulation under pressure. Below is a detailed breakdown of how PSG achieved such a dominant win.
Early Dominance and Tactical Mastery
PSG struck early, scoring twice within the first 20 minutes to set the tone. Achraf Hakimi opened the scoring in the 12th minute, tapping in after a precise pass from Vitinha to Désiré Doué, who cut the ball back. Eight minutes later, Doué doubled the lead, capitalizing on a deflected Ousmane Dembélé cross off Inter’s Federico Dimarco. This fast start mirrored PSG’s knockout stage approach, where they scored first in all matches against Liverpool, Aston Villa, and Arsenal.
PSG Champions League Final 2025 5-0 Win
Manager Luis Enrique’s 4-3-3 formation, devoid of a traditional center-forward, was a masterstroke. The midfield trio of João Neves, Vitinha, and Fabián Ruiz dominated possession (58% in the final) and dictated tempo, while full-backs Hakimi and Nuno Mendes stretched Inter’s 3-5-2 defense. PSG’s high-pressing style, averaging 48.6 ball recoveries per match in the tournament, suffocated Inter, who struggled to transition into their trademark counter-attacks.
Standout Performances
The final showcased PSG’s blend of youth and experience:
- Désiré Doué: The 19-year-old winger was the standout, scoring in the 20th and 63rd minutes and assisting Hakimi’s opener. His second goal, a composed finish after a one-two with Vitinha and Dembélé, showcased his maturity.
- Achraf Hakimi: The Moroccan right-back haunted his former club, Inter, with a goal and constant overlapping runs that exposed Dimarco.
- Khvicha Kvaratskhelia: The Georgian star, signed for €100 million in 2024, scored the fourth goal in the 73rd minute, latching onto a defense-splitting Dembélé pass.
- Senny Mayulu: The 19-year-old substitute sealed the rout in the 87th minute, rifling a shot past Yann Sommer after a counter-attack.
- Ousmane Dembélé and Vitinha: Dembélé’s two assists and Vitinha’s playmaking (92% pass accuracy) were pivotal in dismantling Inter’s defense.
The table below summarizes the goal scorers and their contributions:
| Player | Goals | Assists | Minute | Key Moment |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Achraf Hakimi | 1 | 0 | 12’ | Tap-in from Doué’s cut-back |
| Désiré Doué | 2 | 1 | 20’, 63’ | Deflected cross, composed finish |
| Khvicha Kvaratskhelia | 1 | 0 | 73’ | Finished Dembélé’s through-ball |
| Senny Mayulu | 1 | 0 | 87’ | Counter-attack goal |
| Ousmane Dembélé | 0 | 2 | – | Set up Doué and Kvaratskhelia |
Inter’s Collapse
Inter Milan, despite their pedigree and knockout wins over Barcelona and Bayern Munich, were outclassed. Their defense, anchored by Alessandro Bastoni, crumbled under PSG’s pace and movement. Inter managed only two shots requiring saves from Gianluigi Donnarumma, reflecting their inability to respond. Manager Simone Inzaghi’s substitutions, including Yann Bisseck and Nicola Zalewski, failed to shift momentum, and his booking for protesting in the 60th minute underscored Inter’s frustration.
Statistical Dominance
PSG’s superiority was evident in key metrics:
- Shots: PSG had 18 shots (7 on target) vs. Inter’s 6 (2 on target).
- Expected Goals (xG): PSG’s xG was 3.8, Inter’s 0.6.
- Possession: PSG held 58% possession, with 624 passes completed at 88% accuracy.
- Take-ons: PSG completed 12 dribbles, reflecting their attacking flair.
This table compares key statistics from the final:
| Metric | PSG | Inter Milan |
|---|---|---|
| Goals | 5 | 0 |
| Shots | 18 | 6 |
| Shots on Target | 7 | 2 |
| xG | 3.8 | 0.6 |
| Possession | 58% | 42% |
| Passes Completed | 624 | 412 |
| Pass Accuracy | 88% | 80% |
| Dribbles Completed | 12 | 4 |
The Resurgence of French Football
PSG’s 2025 victory was a beacon for French football, which had languished in Europe’s shadow since Marseille’s 1993 win. France’s domestic league, Ligue 1, often criticized for lacking the financial and competitive depth of the Premier League, LaLiga, or Serie A, saw PSG’s triumph as a vindication of its potential.
Breaking the 32-Year Drought
Marseille’s 1993 European Cup win, a 1-0 victory over AC Milan, was a lone bright spot for French clubs in Europe. Since then, French teams had reached only two finals: Monaco in 2004 (lost 3-0 to Porto) and PSG in 2020 (lost 1-0 to Bayern). PSG’s 2025 win ended this drought, proving that a French club could not only compete but dominate against Europe’s elite.
Impact on Ligue 1’s Reputation
Ligue 1’s UEFA coefficient ranking had slipped to sixth by 2024, behind Portugal and the Netherlands, due to inconsistent European performances. PSG’s 2025 triumph, coupled with their 10-0 aggregate win over Brest in the round of 16, boosted France’s coefficient, securing an extra Champions League spot for 2026/27. This table shows Ligue 1’s coefficient progress:
| Season | UEFA Coefficient Rank | Points | Key Performances |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2022/23 | 5th | 60.081 | PSG (QF), Marseille (EL QF) |
| 2023/24 | 6th | 59.250 | PSG (SF), Marseille (EL SF) |
| 2024/25 | 5th | 65.417 | PSG (Champions), Brest (R16) |
Inspiring the Next Generation
PSG’s youth-driven success, with Doué and Mayulu shining in the final, inspired French academies. The club’s investment in its youth system, producing talents like Warren Zaïre-Emery (19, regular starter) and Mayulu, signaled a shift from relying on foreign stars to nurturing homegrown talent. This resonated nationally, with French media hailing PSG as a “blueprint for the future.”