EUROPE · FOOTBALL
—The result: Paris Saint-Germain beat Arsenal 4-3 on penalties after a 1-1 draw following extra time in Budapest on Saturday.
—The goals: Kai Havertz opened the scoring after six minutes for Arsenal; Ousmane Dembele equalised from the penalty spot in the 65th minute.
—The shootout: Brazilian defender Gabriel Magalhaes missed the deciding penalty for Arsenal, blasting his attempt over the bar. Eberechi Eze had also missed earlier.
—The Brazilian angle: PSG captain Marquinhos lifted the trophy and Lucas Beraldo scored a clutch penalty in the shootout. Gabriel Martinelli converted from the spot for Arsenal.
—Latin American impact: Three of the night’s Brazilian protagonists carry the story into Sunday’s media cycle across Latin America.
Paris Saint-Germain retained the Champions League at the Puskas Arena in Budapest on Saturday, beating Arsenal 4-3 on penalties after a 1-1 draw. The Champions League final turned on a shootout in which Brazilian centre-back Gabriel Magalhaes sent the decisive miss over the bar. Three Brazilian footballers featured at the centre of the night’s story, with PSG captain Marquinhos lifting the trophy.
How the Champions League final unfolded in Budapest
Arsenal opened the scoring after just six minutes. Kai Havertz finished from inside the box to give Mikel Arteta’s side an early lead in front of a partisan crowd at the Puskas Arena. The German made a late entry to the squad after a season of injuries.
PSG levelled in the 65th minute from the penalty spot. Ousmane Dembele converted after a foul in the area to make the score 1-1, his fifth Champions League goal in the knockout rounds this season.
Khvicha Kvaratskhelia hit a post in the 77th minute after Myles Lewis-Skelly’s last-ditch deflection from a William Saliba misjudgement. Neither side scored again in 90 minutes or in extra time, taking the Champions League final to penalties for only the third time in the past decade.
The Champions League final shootout in detail
PSG won the coin toss and the shootout took place in front of their supporters. Eberechi Eze opened for Arsenal and dragged his attempt wide of the post.
David Raya then saved from Nuno Mendes to keep Arsenal in contention. The next several rounds were converted by both teams, with Gabriel Martinelli among the Arsenal scorers and Achraf Hakimi netting for PSG.
At 3-3 in the shootout, Brazilian defender Lucas Beraldo sent Raya the wrong way to put PSG ahead. Arsenal’s Gabriel Magalhaes then blasted his attempt over the bar to hand the trophy back to PSG and seal a 4-3 shootout win.
Brazilian protagonists at the Champions League final
Marquinhos captained PSG to a second consecutive European Cup. The 32-year-old centre-back from São Paulo has now lifted the trophy twice as Paris captain, and his hold on the armband at the Parc des Princes is by some distance the longest of any current European captain.
Lucas Beraldo, the 22-year-old former São Paulo FC defender, scored a clutch penalty in the shootout for PSG. The youngster has become a regular in the Paris back three this season under Luis Enrique and is widely tipped to feature for the Brazilian senior side at the 2026 World Cup.
For Arsenal, Gabriel Magalhaes was one of the side’s best players for 120 minutes before his miss. The 28-year-old, also from São Paulo, has been the bedrock of Arteta’s defence for half a decade. Gabriel Martinelli, the third Brazilian on the pitch at the final whistle, scored his shootout penalty.
What the Champions League final means for PSG and Arsenal
PSG retained the Champions League trophy in back-to-back seasons. The club is now firmly established as a Tier-1 European force after a decade of investment, and Luis Enrique’s contract is locked in beyond the 2027 World Cup cycle.
Arsenal’s wait for a first Champions League title now extends into a 140th year of club history. The Gunners had reached only one previous final, the 2006 edition, which they lost to Barcelona 2-1 in Paris after leading.
Mikel Arteta said after the match that his side needed to be very ambitious in the summer transfer window. The Spaniard, in his sixth full season at the Emirates, faces a third near-miss in the major European competition over four years.
The Champions League final and the 2026 World Cup countdown
The final closes the European club season just 11 days before the 2026 World Cup opens in Mexico City on June 11. Several of Saturday’s protagonists will rejoin national-team camps within 48 hours of the trophy ceremony.
Brazil head coach Carlo Ancelotti has selected Marquinhos, Beraldo, Gabriel Magalhaes, and Gabriel Martinelli among his final squad, all four of whom were on the pitch in Budapest. The Italian’s choice of two PSG centre-backs has been the standout selection call of his pre-tournament window.
Arsene Wenger, Arsenal’s manager in the 2006 final, watched Saturday’s match from the stands. The Frenchman now oversees FIFA’s global development programme.
What was the final score of the Champions League final?
PSG won 4-3 on penalties after a 1-1 draw across 90 minutes plus extra time. Kai Havertz scored for Arsenal in the sixth minute; Ousmane Dembele equalised from the penalty spot in the 65th.
Who missed for Arsenal in the shootout?
Eberechi Eze dragged the opening attempt wide. Brazilian defender Gabriel Magalhaes blasted the decisive attempt over the bar at 3-3 in the shootout.
Where was the final played?
At the Puskas Arena in Budapest, Hungary. It was the 71st edition of the European club competition.
How many Brazilians played in the final?
Four were on the pitch at the final whistle: Marquinhos and Lucas Beraldo for PSG, Gabriel Magalhaes and Gabriel Martinelli for Arsenal. All four are in Brazil’s 2026 World Cup squad.
Has Arsenal ever won the Champions League?
No. The club’s only previous final, in 2006, also ended in defeat. Arsenal’s wait now extends into a 140th year of club history.
For the broader Latin American sports calendar, see our coverage of the Copa Libertadores 2026 round of 16 draw. For the Saudi-Brazilian angle in domestic football, read our piece on the Saudi prince’s purchase of Inter de Limeira.
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