New Format and Records: How the Champions League Final in Budapest Unfolded
The final match at the Puskás Aréna in Budapest ended with a dramatic victory for PSG and became the first final in 10 years to go into extra time. Illia Zabarnyi became the first Ukrainian to play in a decisive match of the top European competition since Andriy Shevchenko.
New Format and Records: How the Champions League Final in Budapest Unfolded
The UEFA Champions League final of the 2025/26 season at the Puskás Aréna in Budapest ended with a dramatic penalty shootout victory for Paris Saint-Germain over London's Arsenal — 1:1 (4:3). This final became the first in 10 years to go into extra time and brought the Parisians their second consecutive triumph in the top European competition. The match also made history thanks to Illia Zabarnyi — the Ukrainian defender became the first player from his country to feature in a Champions League final since Andriy Shevchenko.
Main Event
The Puskás Aréna in Budapest, which hosted nearly 68,000 spectators, witnessed a football drama of the highest intensity. At stake was not just the trophy — PSG aimed to defend the title they had won a year earlier, while Arsenal dreamed of their first Champions League trophy after a 20-year wait.
From the first minutes, the Gunners showed their serious intentions. Already in the 6th minute, Kai Havertz, for whom this final was the second of his career after winning with Chelsea in 2021, opened the scoring with a powerful shot under the crossbar from inside the box. This goal was the fastest in a Champions League final since 2019 and allowed Havertz to join an elite club — he became only the third player in history to score in decisive matches of the tournament for two different clubs.
PSG responded to the conceded goal with prolonged positional pressure, but the first half remained with Arsenal — 1:0. The Parisians started the second half even more aggressively, and in the 65th minute their efforts paid off. After a foul on Khvicha Kvaratskhelia in the penalty area, the referee pointed to the spot, and Ousmane Dembélé calmly sent the goalkeeper and the ball in opposite directions — 1:1.
The score remained unchanged in both regular time and extra time. The final became the first in 10 years to go into extra time — the previous such case was in 2016, when Real Madrid beat Atlético Madrid on penalties. In extra time, both teams played cautiously, fearing a mistake, and the fate of the trophy was decided in the post-match penalty shootout.
The penalty shootout turned into a nerve-wracking thriller. Lucas Beraldo converted the decisive fifth kick, putting PSG ahead 4:3, after which Gabriel Magalhães sent the ball over the bar, giving the Parisians their second consecutive Champions League victory.
Details and Statistics
The final in Budapest will go down in history not only for its dramatic script but also for numerous statistical achievements. PSG became the first club since Real Madrid (2016–2018) to successfully defend the Champions League title. The Parisians are also the first French team to win two consecutive doubles (Ligue 1 and Champions League).
Luis Enrique, who leads PSG, joined the ranks of the most decorated coaches in the tournament's history. This victory was his third Champions League trophy (2015 with Barcelona, 2025 and 2026 with PSG), making him only the fifth person to achieve this feat.
Khvicha Kvaratskhelia, one of the main architects of the Parisians' success, finished the season with phenomenal numbers. The Georgian winger scored 10 goals in the Champions League campaign, equaling Zlatan Ibrahimović's record for PSG. By the end of the season, PSG set several achievements recorded in the Guinness World Records: the most consecutive knockout stage matches with a goal involvement in a single season (7 — Kvaratskhelia's achievement), the most passes in a season (1,602 — Vitinha), and 45 goals scored by the team, matching Barcelona's record from the 1999/2000 season.
Notably, the final broke an 11-year tradition. Since the 2014/15 season, the team that scored first had always won the Champions League final. PSG became the first club in 11 years to overturn a deficit and ultimately lift the trophy.
Context and Significance
A special place in the history of this final was occupied by Ukrainian defender Illia Zabarnyi. The 23-year-old player came on as a substitute in the second half of extra time, replacing the tired captain Marquinhos, and played for 15 minutes, reliably covering his zone. For Zabarnyi, this was his first full match in the Champions League knockout stage — and immediately a final!
The Ukrainian became the first player from his country to feature in a decisive match of the top European competition since Andriy Shevchenko. The legendary forward played in the 2008 final for Chelsea, which then lost to Manchester United on penalties. Eighteen years later, the Ukrainian legacy in Champions League history was continued by Zabarnyi.
After the final, Zabarnyi published an emotional message, dedicating the victory to his family, who supported him on his path to triumph. "This moment belongs not only to me. It belongs to my wife, who was by my side at every stage of the journey. It also belongs to my parents. Thank you for everything you have done for me. This achievement is not only mine. It is a reflection of the people who were there when the path was long and difficult," the Ukrainian wrote. The closest people to the footballer came to the stadium in Budapest: his wife Anhelina, father Borys, mother Nataliia, brother Ivan, and mother-in-law Yuliia Leus.
PSG fans highly appreciated the Ukrainian's performance at the crucial moment. French supporters noted that Zabarnyi "instantly added stability to the defense," "acted calmly, confidently, without panic," and "not a single dangerous moment occurred near the goal after his substitution." Many agreed that Zabarnyi is "the future of PSG's defense for the next 10 years."
Notably, the award ceremony was also remembered for another moment: Zabarnyi came to receive his medal with the Ukrainian flag, while Russian goalkeeper Matvey Safonov, also a Champions League winner, chose to appear without a flag. This episode became a subject of active discussion on social media, but the main thing remains — football once again proved its ability to unite despite political differences.
What's Next / Preview of the Next Match
With the victory in Budapest, PSG does not end the season — on August 11, the Parisians face a match for the UEFA Super Cup against the Europa League winner, Spain's Real Sociedad. The match will take place at the Karaiskakis Stadium in Piraeus, Greece. For PSG, this will be their sixth Super Cup appearance; for the Basque club, it will be their debut.
Additionally, winning the Champions League guarantees the Parisians a spot in the expanded FIFA Club World Cup, which will be held in the USA in the summer of 2026. The tournament featuring the 32 best teams in the world will be a new challenge for the European champions.
As for the squad, PSG faces an active summer transfer window. According to French media, several players may leave the team, including Gonçalo Ramos, who is unhappy with his playing time, and Randal Kolo Muani, who is not in Luis Enrique's plans. The departure of captain Marquinhos, whose contract is nearing its end, is also possible. At the same time, the club is already looking for reinforcements, with particular interest in Liverpool defender Ibrahima Konaté, who could move as a free agent.
Arsenal, despite the bitter defeat, can be proud of their European campaign. The Gunners reached the final, setting several records: they remained the only unbeaten team in the tournament (11 wins, 3 draws) and set a club record of 14 matches without defeat in a single campaign. For Mikel Arteta, this final was a valuable experience, and the Londoners will surely try to compete for the top European trophy again next season.
The Budapest final will remain in the memory of fans as a symbol of a new era in European football — an era where PSG has firmly established itself at the top, and Ukrainian football has gained a new hero in the person of Illia Zabarnyi.
— Editorial Team
