The 2026 UEFA Champions League Final took place on Saturday, May 30, 2026, at the Puskás Aréna in Budapest, Hungary. In a dramatic showdown, defending champions Paris Saint-Germain (PSG) successfully retained their crown, defeating Arsenal on penalties after the match ended 1–1 following extra time. Here is a breakdown of how the final unfolded: Match Summary Score: PSG 1–1 Arsenal (After Extra Time) Penalties: PSG won 4–3 Man of the Match: Vitinha (PSG) Key Moments Early Lead for Arsenal (6'): Kai Havertz pounced on a loose ball following a defensive miscue by Marquinhos and coolly slotted it home to give the Gunners a dream start. The Equalizer (65'): PSG’s relentless pressure paid off in the second half when Khvicha Kvaratskhelia drew a foul in the box from Christian Mosquera. Ousmane Dembélé stepped up and buried the resulting penalty past David Raya. The Shootout Drama: Arsenal looked well-stocked for penalties, especially after David Raya saved Nuno Mendes' spot-kick. However, Eberechi Eze dragged his penalty wide earlier in the shootout, and Arsenal defender Gabriel Magalhães skied the final, must-score fifth penalty over the bar to hand PSG the trophy. Key Takeaways Back-to-Back Glory: With this victory, PSG became only the second club in the modern Champions League era to win back-to-back titles, matching Real Madrid's historic feat. Arsenal's Heartbreak: Despite recently conquering the Premier League, the Gunners fell just short of securing their first-ever Champions League trophy, marking their third major European final defeat in club history.
