Tens of thousands of enthusiastic supporters filled the Champs-Élysées on Sunday to celebrate Paris Saint-Germain’s historic UEFA Champions League victory.
The celebration began with a bus parade, as the team arrived from Munich after their emphatic 5–0 win over Inter Milan in Saturday’s final.
Jubilant fans lined the streets waving PSG flags, lighting flares, and cheering as the players—donning shirts marked with the number ’25’ to signify the year—displayed the trophy and engaged with the crowd.
READ ALSO: PSG beat Inter Milan 5-0 to clinch first champions league title
“Let’s all sing together,” exclaimed captain Marquinhos as the open-top bus made its way through the city.
Following the street celebrations, Coach Luis Enrique and the squad, including 19-year-old breakout star Désiré Doué—who scored twice in the final—attended a formal reception at the Élysée Palace hosted by President Emmanuel Macron.
“You are the champions and you have put Paris at the top of Europe,” Macron declared. He added, “There were 11 of you on the field, but there was clearly a twelfth man — the entire French public, regardless of traditional allegiances,” a statement made with a nod to his own allegiance to Olympique de Marseille, PSG’s traditional rivals.
However, the celebratory mood was darkened by the unrest that erupted after the final whistle.
According to the Interior Ministry, nearly 600 arrests were made nationwide. Violent incidents included the burning of over 200 vehicles and clashes between police and youths.
Tragedy also struck in several locations—among them, a 17-year-old boy fatally stabbed in Dax and a scooter rider killed in central Paris after being hit by a vehicle. A police officer was also seriously injured by a firework and placed in a medically induced coma.
Macron condemned the violence, stating: “Nothing can justify what has happened in the last few hours, the violent clashes are unacceptable. We will pursue, we will punish, we will be relentless.
”PSG promptly distanced themselves from the violence, praising the conduct of the majority of their supporters throughout the season.
“These isolated acts are contrary to the club’s values and in no way represent the vast majority of our supporters, whose exemplary behaviour throughout the season deserves to be commended,” the club said in a statement on Sunday.
Security forces remained vigilant on Sunday evening as festivities continued at the Parc des Princes, PSG’s home stadium.
The final drew an estimated 11.8 million television viewers across France, marking PSG as only the second French club—after Marseille in 1993—to win the Champions League.
This victory not only represents PSG’s first European crown but also the largest margin of victory in a final in the history of the Champions League and its predecessor, the European Cup.
The club’s success comes after a strategic pivot from big-name signings to investing in emerging French talent.
Doué’s stellar performance, along with Senny Mayulu’s late goal as a substitute, symbolized the fruits of this long-term approach.
“In the dressing room, everyone broke down in their own way, you could see it in their eyes, people were filled with joy and pride,” Mayulu said.
PSG president Nasser Al-Khelaifi summed up the club’s new ambition: “The objective now is to win again. It has taken 14 years of hard work but we are building something for the future.”
