PSG Celebrates Historic Champions League Win with Trophy Parade in Paris/ Newslooks/ WASHINGTON/ J. Mansour/ Morning Edition/ Paris Saint-Germain celebrated its first-ever Champions League title with a trophy parade and stadium ceremony in Paris. Coach Luis Enrique and captain Marquinhos led jubilant celebrations alongside star winger Ousmane Dembélé. Despite widespread fan euphoria, the night was marred by scattered violence and injuries across the city.
PSG Champions League Victory Quick Looks
- PSG beat Inter Milan 5-0 to win the 2025 UEFA Champions League
- Celebrations included a parade down the Champs-Élysées and trophy ceremony at Parc des Princes
- Star winger Ousmane Dembélé and captain Marquinhos received the loudest ovations
- Coach Luis Enrique praised for masterminding the club’s European triumph
- Violence and unrest in Paris resulted in two deaths and over 200 injuries
- PSG condemned violent incidents, calling them unrepresentative of the fan base
- French President Macron hosted the team at Élysée Palace
- Up to 110,000 fans attended the trophy celebration
PSG Celebrates Historic Champions League Win with Trophy Parade in Paris
Deep Look
A Dream Realized: PSG Brings Champions League Glory to Paris
PARIS — After decades of near-misses and heartbreaks, Paris Saint-Germain finally lifted the UEFA Champions League trophy — and the celebration in the French capital was nothing short of epic. Returning home a day after demolishing Inter Milan 5-0 in Munich, PSG’s players were welcomed with thunderous applause, ecstatic chants, and a sea of club colors.
Parc des Princes roared with pride on Sunday evening as fans packed the stadium to celebrate the club’s historic first European crown. A spectacular light show and concert preceded the trophy presentation, as players were introduced one by one to deafening cheers.
The loudest applause was reserved for captain Marquinhos, who hoisted the trophy alongside club president Nasser Al-Khelaïfi, and for winger Ousmane Dembélé, whose dazzling performance in the final prompted chants of “Ballon d’Or” from the home crowd.
Champions on the Streets: Paris Parade Draws Massive Crowd
Earlier in the day, PSG’s open-top bus parade wound down the iconic Champs-Élysées, with players passing the coveted trophy between them as thousands of fans lined the route. Luis Enrique, whose tactical brilliance brought PSG to glory, sang along with fans and waved to the crowds.
The jubilant scenes were reminiscent of France’s World Cup celebrations in 1998 and 2018, with central Paris virtually shut down for the event. French President Emmanuel Macron welcomed the team to the Élysée Palace before the stadium ceremony, underlining the national pride tied to PSG’s triumph.
Legends Return: Club Icons Join the Festivities
Former club stars like Jérôme Rothen and Bernard Mendy helped ignite the atmosphere at Parc des Princes, making tongue-in-cheek references to PSG’s longtime rival Marseille, the only other French club to have previously won the Champions League. Rothen drew laughs with a jab at Marseille’s famous slogan, “À jamais les premiers” (“Forever the first”).
With PSG now having matched Marseille’s historic feat, the narrative of French football has shifted — and the capital club can finally claim its place among Europe’s elite.
Tragedy Mars the Celebration
Despite the widespread celebrations, the weekend was not without tragedy. Two deaths and more than 200 injuries were reported during post-match festivities across Paris and other French cities.
In the western city of Dax, a 17-year-old boy was fatally stabbed during a street party. In Paris, a man in his twenties died in a traffic collision during the celebrations. A police officer suffered severe eye injuries after being struck by fireworks in northwestern France.
Police used water cannons and tear gas to control unruly crowds near landmarks like the Arc de Triomphe and Parc des Princes. Paris police chief Laurent Nunez blamed the violence on opportunistic agitators, not genuine fans. “Thousands came with no intention of watching the match,” he said.
PSG condemned the violence, calling the incidents “isolated acts” that do not reflect the values or behavior of the club’s broader fan base.
A City Transformed
The impact of PSG’s win extended beyond football. Traffic congestion, public transit disruptions, and even the French Open were affected by the celebrations. Fans on scooters, waving flags and honking horns, filled the streets, while buses headed to Roland-Garros were delayed.
Tennis legend Novak Djokovic made the short walk from the French Open venue to Parc des Princes and smiled as his face appeared on the stadium screen, joining thousands of Parisians in soaking in the historic moment.
The Beginning of a New Era
For PSG, the Champions League win is more than just a trophy — it’s a defining moment in club history. After years of heavy investment and international ambition, the club has finally conquered Europe.
Coach Luis Enrique, once questioned for his style and squad choices, is now lauded as the mastermind behind one of the most dominant Champions League final performances ever.
And for the fans — especially the generation that grew up with heartbreak in 2020 and bitter rival taunts — Sunday night was a dream fulfilled.
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