Paris Saint-Germain FC have finally done it. For the first time in their history, PSG lifted the Champions League trophy following a 5-0 ✌️ over International Milano FC in Munich on Saturday, 31st, Namarking the most lopsided score in UCL final history. Led by 19-year-old Desire Doue, who became the youngest player ever with a goal and an assist in a Champions League final, he finished with two goals as PSG delivered in
what was supposed to be a rebuilding year after the summer departure of Kylian Mbappe.
Achraf Hakimi scored the winner early on for PSG, bagging the goal against his former club and not celebrating it while apologizing to the Inter supporters. Senny Mayuli, another one of PSG's young talents, added the fifth goal late on.
On the season, PSG manager Luis Enrique was able to create a setup that got the best out of each of the players and has become the seventh manager to win the Champions League with two different clubs, while also capping off PSG's excellent season with a treble.
PSG may not have maintained an undefeated season in the league, but winning Ligue 1, the Coupe de France, and the Champions League, they've become the first team to win a treble that included a UCL title since Manchester City in 2022-23. Both of those trebles involved defeating Inter in the final.
PSG ( Owner Qatar¹)
versus
Internazionale Milano
• ¹ Paris Saint-Germain (PSG) is majority-owned by Qatar Sports Investments (QSI), which holds 87.5% of the shares. The club has been under QSI's ownership since 2011, making it one of the wealthiest football clubs in the world.
Lineups
PSG vs Internazionale Player Lineups
Formation: 4-3-3
1 Gianluigi Donnarumma
2 Achraf Hakimi
5 Marquinhos
51 Willian Pacho
25 Nuno Mendes
87 João Neves
17 Vitinha
8 Fabián Ruiz
14 Désiré Doué
10 Ousmane Dembélé
7 Khvicha Kvaratskhelia
Formation: 3-5-2
1 Yann Sommer
28 Benjamin Pavard
15 Francesco Acerbi
95 Alessandro Bastoni
2 Denzel Dumfries
23 Nicolò Barella
20 Hakan Çalhanoğlu
22 Henrikh Mkhitaryan
32 Federico Dimarco
9 Marcus Thuram
10 Lautaro Martínez
Substitutes
39 Matvey Safonov
80 Arnau Tenas
3 Presnel Kimpembe
21 Lucas Hernández
35 Lucas Beraldo
19 Kang-in Lee
24 Senny Mayulu
33 Warren Zaïre-Emery
9 Gonçalo Ramos
29 Bradley Barcola
49 Ibrahim Mbaye
12 Raffaele Di Gennaro
13 Josep Martínez
6 Stefan de Vrij
30 Carlos Augusto
31 Yann Bisseck
59 Nicola Zalewski
7 Piotr Zieliński
16 Davide Frattesi
21 Kristjan Asllani
36 Matteo Darmian
99 Mehdi Taremi
8 Marko Arnautović
Coaches
Luis Enrique S. Inzaghi
Confirmed lineups
PSG XI: Donnarumma; Hakimi, Marquinhos, Pacho, Nuno Mendes; Joao Neves, Vitinha, Fabian; Doue, Dembele, Kvaratskhelia
Subs: Safonov, Tenas, Kimpembe, Goncalo Ramos, Lee, L. Hernandez, Mayulu, Barcola, Zaire-Emery, Lucas Beraldo, Mbaye
Inter XI: Sommer; Pavard, Acerbi, Bastoni; Dumfries, Barella, Calhanoglu, Mkhitaryan, Dimarco; Martinez, Thuram
Subs: Di Gennaro, Martinez, De Vrij, Zielinski, Arnautovic, Frattesi, Asllani, Augusto, Bisseck, Darmian, Zalewski, Taremi
PSG wins the first Champions League in their history
Not only is this a massive success for PSG but it's also the first UCL title won by a Ligue 1 team since Marseille did it in 1993. This is quite a time for the Parisians, and Desire Doue, at only 19, was able to pace his team to victory with two goals and an assist. This is the largest margin of victory in a UCL final eve, and this could be a look at soccer's next dynasty.
Paris Saint-Germain versus Inter score: PSG crowned Champions League winners for first time with blowout victory
Paris Saint-Germain have finally done it. For the first time in their history, PSG lifted the Champions League trophy following a 5-0 victory over Inter in Munich on Saturday, marking the most lopsided score in UCL final history. Led by 19-year-old Desire Doue, who became the youngest player ever with a goal and an assist in a Champions League final, he finished with two goals as PSG delivered in what was supposed to be a rebuilding year after the summer departure of Kylian Mbappe.
Achraf Hakimi scored the winner early on for PSG, bagging the goal against his former club and not celebrating it while apologizing to the Inter supporters. Senny Mayuli, another one of PSG's young talents, added the fifth goal late on.
On the season, PSG manager Luis Enrique was able to create a setup that got the best out of each of the players and has become the seventh manager to win the Champions League with two different clubs, while also capping off PSG's excellent season with a treble.
PSG may not have maintained an undefeated season in the league, but winning Ligue 1, the Coupe de France, and the Champions League, they've become the first team to win a treble that included a UCL title since Manchester City in 2022-23. Both of those trebles involved defeating Inter in the final.
PSG wins the first Champions League in their history
Not only is this a massive success for PSG but it's also the first UCL title won by a Ligue 1 team since Marseille did it in 1993. This is quite a time for the Parisians, and Desire Doue, at only 19, was able to pace his team to victory with two goals and an assist. This is the largest margin of victory in a UCL final eve, and this could be a look at soccer's next dynasty.
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GOAL! PSG 5, Inter 0
It's a record victory as PSG Senny Mayulu adds another goal. He has added to Inter's poor showing in the final, and a five-goal margin of victory is the largest in history. Talk about getting your first UCL title in club history in style.
Barcola misses the chance at history
PSG could have secured the largest margin of victory in a UCL final but Bradley Barcola was only able to fire his shot into he side netting. There are still five more minutes remaining to chase more history.
— ⚽️
GOAL! PSG 4, Inter 0
This is beyond a route with PSG now ahead by four goals as Khvicha Kvaratskhelia has now gotten a goal to go with his exploits. There's still 16 minutes remaining and a chance to make this the most lopsided victory in UCL final history. Luis Enrique is loving it.
Khvicha Kvaratskhelia scores the fourth and PSG moves closer to their first ever UEFA Champions League 🇫🇷 pic.twitter.com/UBtlMPPypN
— ⚽️
GOAL! PSG 3, Inter 0
It's Doue again now with a brace and this game is out of sight. PSG is having fun out there, flying up and down the pitch, and Inter can't do anything about it.
Inter can't stop PSG from doing anything
Hakimi is streaking past the entire Inter defense, and next thing you know, PSG is through on goal. Time is dwindling to get back into this and Inter will make more changes but with 29 minutes left, it may not be enough to turn the tide. Bissek has picked up an injury after entering and will be replaced by Darmian.
Here comes the changes for Inter
Benjamin Pavard and Federico Dimarco both exit with Yann Bissek and Nicola Zalweski entering. Dimarco has had a match to forget so it shouldn't come as a surprise that he's withdrawn while this match was Pavard's return from injury so he was never going to go 90 minutes.
Picking up where they left off
Right out of the half PSG are pushing for more goals. Their best fendese has been attack this season so there's no reason to not continue how they know to play.
We've reached the halfway point
It's still all PSG but Inter tried to generate some chances at the into of the half. They'll need much more to overturn this two-goal advantage, but will also run the risk of allowing more goals to PSG if they open things up too much. This match is far from over but PSG will feel quite confident about their chances.
Inter's growing into the game a little
They finally got the ball into the PSG box, earning a corner kick which Thuram drove wide of goal. While it didn't end in a goal, any sense of positivity ahead of the half is important for Inter.
Let's talk about Desire Doue
Only 19, the Frenchman has a goal and an assist in the early going of the match to put PSG ahead 2-0. This is his first season with PSG after joining from Stade Rennais during the summer, and it has been a breakout performance. Winning the winger role from Bradley Barcola, Doue has broken out for 14 goals and 14 assists in all competitions, including four goals and three assists only in UCL play. He's doing what he can to lead PSG to their first UCL title.
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GOAL! PSG 2, Inter 0
This time it's Desire Doue to put PSG ahead 2-0. The buildup up play was excellent with Ousmane Dembele leading the charge and then he picked out Doue, who got a little help in putting the ball in the back of the net with a deflection off of Dimarco. This is a nightmare start for Inter with PSG ahead by two goals only 21 minutes into the match.
A slick build-up sets the stage for Désiré Doué to score PSG’s second 😤 pic.twitter.com/Q65SS6EikB
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GOAL! PSG 1, Inter 0
It's Hakimi!!!
PSG opens the scoring with a beautiful team goal, and Hakimi is in the center of the box to knock it home. This says something about PSG's setup that Hakimi was the one in a striker's position to finish things off, giving PSG the early lead. Inter's defense, especially Federico Dimarco, has some questions to answer after that but there's plenty of time left in the match for an equalizer.
ACHRAF HAKIMI OPENS THE SCORING FOR PSG 💥
pic.twitter.com/6XhdwkegVRpic.twitter.com/6XhdwkegVR
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PSG with chances from a set play
Aiming for Marquinhos, it took a few times to find him in the middle but the Parisians were able to find him with a header going over Yann Sommer's net. So far, PSG has controlled possession as expected but the counters haven't been there for Inter with PSG coming in prepared.
And we're off
Both teams have had early turnovers as they look to settle into the tie. With the last nine UCL finals being won by the team who scored the first goal, a fast start could be important.
PSG 0, Inter 0 (1H)
Kick off is rapidly approaching
Inter great Javier Zanetti and Javier Pastore, a bit of a cult hero in PSG, are bringing the trophy out onto the pitch. A violinist unleashes what is certainly a version of Seven Nation Army. Can't anything just happen organically?
Paris Saint-Germain v FC Internazionale Milano - UEFA Champions League Final 2025
(A fan of Paris Saint-Germain reacts as he holds up a scarf)
Paris Saint-Germain v FC Internazionale Milano - UEFA Champions League Final 2025
(Fans of Inter show their support)
Anyway the teams are in the tunnels. The fans are very, very ready. It won't be long before we're up and running so it's time to hand things over to Chuck Booth. All yours.
15 minutes to go
We're so close now to the final act of the club season. It'll be Paris Saint-Germain or Inter. Who've you got? Let us know!
Oh also Linkin Park are on the pitch. Yeah. I guess. I'm sure that's exciting for quite literally some people in the crowd.
Champions League team of the tournament
Yes, yes, I know there's still a game left to go but either way, I've gone ahead and picked our team of the tournament. Maybe it'll change off the back of 90/120 minutes but probably not. After all, it'd take something quite incredible to unseat those two you can see below.
Champions League team of the tournament: Barcelona's Lamine Yamal, Raphinha and PSG's Ousmane Dembele headline
A battle of the ages
Everyone knew at the start of this season that PSG were in a rebuild, one that has settled in far quicker than anyone might reasonably have expected. This is a side set up for the future and with an average age of 24 years and 262 days through the Champions League one that might have its best days ahead of it.
You probably couldn't say that of Inter. Their average age: 30 years, 19 days. I want to really, really emphasise that there's nothing old about that. Indeed Inter are young bucks by any metric other than those we have in football. But still... this might be a last roll of the dice for the Nerazzuri.
Even more Champions League
It's official! Paramount+ will be the home of the women's Champions League through to the 2029-30 season, all 75 matches across the season live, just as you can follow every game in the men's competition. This is going to be good! Read more here
Two big (and unsurprising) calls
I can't remember a Champions League final with so little selection drama in the lead up to the game. The only scintilla of a question was whether Yann Aurel Bisseck would be fit enough to play in the Inter back three but even then it was not necessarily guaranteed that he would be preferred to Benjamin Pavard who starts anyway.
Meanwhile for PSG Desire Doue has established himself as the favored third man in the front three and he holds on to his jersey ahead of Bradley Barcola, who profiles to be one of the few in either side who can make a big impact off the bench.
Confirmed lineups
PSG XI: Donnarumma; Hakimi, Marquinhos, Pacho, Nuno Mendes; Joao Neves, Vitinha, Fabian; Doue, Dembele, Kvaratskhelia
Subs: Safonov, Tenas, Kimpembe, Goncalo Ramos, Lee, L. Hernandez, Mayulu, Barcola, Zaire-Emery, Lucas Beraldo, Mbaye
Inter XI: Sommer; Pavard, Acerbi, Bastoni; Dumfries, Barella, Calhanoglu, Mkhitaryan, Dimarco; Martinez, Thuram
Subs: Di Gennaro, Martinez, De Vrij, Zielinski, Arnautovic, Frattesi, Asllani, Augusto, Bisseck, Darmian, Zalewski, Taremi
Player to watch: Achraf Hakimi
Inter, for whom Achraf Hakimi patrolled the right flank before being snared away by Les Parisiens in 2021, will know this player's qualities only too well. Just as he was in Milan, Hakimi can function as a one-man right flank as required.
Certainly, he is extremely effective on the front foot, trailing only Barcola and Dembele in terms of penalty box touches. Any full back averaging over two shots per 90 is a serious attacking threat, particularly when they're hit as well as the one he scored against Arsenal in the semifinal second leg. Though that came from broken play, it speaks to one of Hakimi's great qualities, his ability to step infield and cause as much danger as he does on the overlap. Plenty of fullbacks can make devastating runs on the overlap, a growing number can also affect the game with underlapping runs and stepping infield. As his touch map below hints at, Hakimi can do both.
Attacking half actions points by Achraf Hakimi in the 2024-25 Champions League
As Hakimi, now in his seventh season playing for an elite European club, has developed his defensive chops have greatly improved. That he can effectively counter-press when caught up field goes some way to making PSG one of the most effective out-of-possession elite sides. Only 10 players have won possession in the attacking third more than the Moroccan this season, and it shouldn't surprise you to learn that none of them are defenders. Get him going backwards, and he still has the athleticism to catch anyone. If he can overcome Bastoni and Federico Dimarco, making the latter focus on defending rather than the threat he can pose in the final third, then Hakimi could have as sizeable an impact on this contest as anyone.
Our expert predictions
Talk about bulletin board material, every one of our experts is going for a PSG win:
Expert#1 picked PSG
Expert#2 picked PSG
Expert#3 picked PSG
Expert#4 picked PSG
Expert#5 picked PSG
Here's what Pardeep Cattry had to say in picking a 2-0 win for PSG:
The big question of this Champions League final is if Paris Saint-Germain's impressive offense is actually that hard to beat and while Inter are a formidable foe, there are a lot of reasons to answer that question in the affirmative. Manager Luis Enrique has envisioned a unique style of play that catches opponents by surprise every time they hit the pitch and it's hard to envision that Inter will feel differently in their first-ever competitive match against PSG. Teams may figure out a way to defeat this version of PSG at some point, but that feels more like a development for next season than something that could happen on Saturday.
Spot on if you ask me. Then again, I picked the same scoreline.
How they got here: International Milano
Compared to PSG's dramatic rush through the league phase, Inter eased into the last 16 outright, losing only one of their eight league phase games while beating Arsenal and drawing away to Manchester City. Only Bayer Leverkusen overcame them and in dramatic late fashion but still Inzaghi's men were in the top four.
gettyimages-1810648934-davide-frattesi-inter-milan-second-goal-2h-2023-ucl-md5-1400.jpg
They were rewarded with a fairly favorable opening tie against Feyenoord but after that it was as tough as it could get. Inter won brilliantly away to Bayern Munich, Davide Frattesi striking late on (get used to that), before holding out for a 2-2 draw in the San Siro. The goals flowed generously for both Barcelona and Inter in the semis, both legs of which ended 3-3 in normal time. Then came Frattesi in the 99th minute, a seventh European Cup final secured.
Battle of the goalkeepers
Two of the stars of this tournament have been between the sticks for the finalists. Gianluigi Donnarumma has been infuriating English teams for months -- just like it's Euro 2020 -- while Yann Sommer has been in heroic form right the way through the competition, most of all in the semifinals. But who will having the most telling impact? The break it down in the video below:
Gianluigi Donnarumma’s reach or Yann Sommer’s reflexes? Both goalkeepers have been massive this #UCL season.
Do you know ⚽️ ?
Best bets
Chuck Booth picked out some of his best bets for today. Here's where he's looking at money being made:
Hakan Calhanoglu to have 1+ shot on target from outside the box (+200)
Neither team playing in this final has met a shot that they don't like, and for Hakan Calhanoglu, his technique from free kicks makes him one of the most dangerous attackers in the world. Gianluigi Donnarumma will be tough to beat in net for PSG, but one place where Inter may have the edge is when it comes to orchestrating set plays. Even if they don't get free kicks from good shooting positions, Calhanoglu won't be afraid to let the ball fly when needed, trying to secure a trophy for his side.
PSG to win (+120)
While there were some injury concerns for Enrique, the biggest is almost behind him with Khvicha Kvaratskhelia returning to training. With that, PSG will be able to impose their will, looking to make things happen from everywhere on the pitch. Of course, Inter won't make it easy for PSG to pull out a victory, but there is so much talent on the Parisian side. Ousmane Dembele has been in an amazing run of form as a Ballon d'Or contender, and that combined with their balance in midfield will be enough to get this done in regulation.
First half to end in a draw (+105)
This may be an open match, but that doesn't mean that it will get off to a fast start. Even if a team does score in the first half, it's likely that the other team will find a way for an equalizer. Most likely, they'll feel each other out in the first 15 minutes or so before the game begins to open up with the keepers and defenders being called into action before the second half.
How they got here: PSG
Who could have imagined in the early weeks of this competition that PSG would find themselves in the Champions League final. For a while it seemed that merely getting to the knockout stages was in doubt after four points from their first five games, which included defeats to Arsenal, Atletico Madrid and Bayern Munich. PSG roared back in the new year, however, securing 15th place with wins over Manchester City and VfB Stuttgart.
Liverpool FC v Paris Saint-Germain - UEFA Champions League 2024/25 Round of 16 Second Leg
LIVERPOOL, ENGLAND - MARCH 11: Ousmane Dembele of PSG celebrates scoring his penalty during the penalty shootout of the UEFA Champions League 2024/25 UEFA Champions League 2024/25 Round of 16 Second Leg match between Liverpool FC and Paris Saint-Germain (PSG) at Anfield on March 11, 2025 in Liverpool, England.
From there on Luis Enrique's side have been relentless, starting with the 10-0 aggregate crushing of Brest. It wasn't quite as straightforward in the next two rounds but a penalty shootout win over Liverpool and 5-4 aggregate win over Aston Villa flattered their opponents more than PSG. Then Ousmane Dembele got them out in front four minutes into the first leg of the semifinal and Les Parisiens never really looked back, beating Arsenal 3-0 on aggregate. So here they are, bidding to go one better than the defeated finalists of 2020.
Predicted lineups
Not too long now until Luis Enrique and Simone Inzaghi name their XIs. Here's what we're expecting:
Paris Saint-Germain (PSG): Gianluigi Donnarumma, Nuno Mendes, Willian Pacho, Marquinhos, Achraf Hakimi, Fabian Ruiz, Vitinha, Joao Neves, Ousmane Dembele, Deserie Doue, Khvicha Kvaratskhelia
Inter Milan: Yann Sommer, Yann Bisseck, Francesco Acerbi, Alessandro Bastoni, Denzel Dumfries, Nicolo Barella, Hakan Calhanoglu, Henrikh Mkhitaryan, Federico D.
Paris Saint-Germain FC were initially fan-owned and had 20,000 members. The club was run by board members Guy Crescent, Pierre-Étienne Guyot and Henri Patrelle. A group of wealthy French businessmen, led by Daniel Hechter and Francis Borelli, would then buy the club in 1973. PSG changed hands in 1991, when Canal+ took over, and then again in 2006, with the arrival of Colony Capital. Qatar Sports Investments (QSI) have been the majority owners of PSG since 2011, currently holding 87.5% of the shares. Arctos Partners owns the remaining 12.5%.
Backed by the Qatari government, QSI acquired a majority stake in 2011 and then became the Parisian outfit's sole owner in 2012. PSG are therefore a state-owned club, which makes them one of the wealthiest teams in the world. In 2023, Arctos Partners acquired a minority stake in the Qatar-funded French team. QSI chairman Nasser Al-Khelaifi has been PSG president since the takeover. However, Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani, the Emir of Qatar, has the final word on every major decision of the club. He is both the chairman of the QIA and the founder of QSI.
Upon its arrival, QSI pledged to form a team capable of winning the UEFA Champions League. PSG have spent over €1.9bn on player transfers since the summer of 2011. These massive expenditures have translated in PSG's domination of French football but have not yet brought home the coveted UCL trophy as well as causing problems with UEFA's Financial Fair Play regulations.
PSG currently have the third-highest revenue in the footballing world with annual earnings of €806m according to Deloitte, and are the world's seventh-most valuable football club, worth $4.4bn according to Forbes. This financial growth has been supported by PSG's Qatari owners; the team's on-pitch success; high-profile signings, including Zlatan Ibrahimović, Neymar, Kylian Mbappé and Lionel Messi; and lucrative sponsorship deals with the Qatar Tourism Authority, Nike, Air Jordan, Accor and Qatar Airways.
Developing football in Paris was a great ambition in 1969, since the French capital did not have an elite football team. Main backers Guy Crescent, Pierre-Étienne Guyot and Henri Patrelle were stuck with a problem related to the financing of the project until they met Real Madrid president Santiago Bernabéu. The latter told them that starting a subscription campaign was the best solution.[1] After 20,000 subscriptions, Paris Saint-Germain were founded on 12 August 1970. For the first time in French football history, the fans had financially contributed to the creation of a football club.
During its first three years of existence, the club was fan-owned and had 20,000 members. At the time, the annual fee to become a member was between 25 and 40 francs (4 to 6 euros). PSG were run by board members Crescent, Guyot and Patrelle until 1973. That year, having accrued a considerable debt, club president Patrelle set out to look for financial aid. He found it in the form of French investor and fashion designer Daniel Hechter. The latter took control of PSG shortly after, becoming club president and naming fellow Frenchman Francis Borelli as vice-president. Borelli then assumed the presidency in 1978 after Hechter was banned for life from football by the French Football Federation (FFF). He was found guilty of running a ticketing scheme at the Parc des Princes.
PSG's first major trophies arrived during the tenure of Borelli, but he also left the club on the brink of insolvency. Bought by French conglomerate Matra, the resurgent Matra Racing reached the top-flight in 1984 and went head to head with PSG for recognition as the capital's main sporting entity. Matra's experiment was short-lived, though, and by 1989 they returned to the lower leagues after bankrupting themselves. Borelli, however, incurred serious debts and financial irregularities in an attempt to ensure PSG's dominance in Paris. His mismanagement came to light in 1991 and, like Hechter before him, was forced by the FFF to resign.
Canal+ and Colony Capital (1991–2011)
Eager to revive interest in Ligue 1 and lure more subscribers, French premium television channel Canal+ bought PSG in May 1991. Canal+ paid off the club's debt and saved it from bankruptcy. Televised games became PSG's main source of income during a decade in which TV rights skyrocketed. As a result, PSG became one of the richest clubs in France. The club's budget went from 90 to 120 million francs and star signings like Valdo, David Ginola, George Weah, Raí and Youri Djorkaeff ensured several trophies between 1993 and 1998.
PSG adopted the status of Société Anonyme Sportive Professionnelle (SASP, i.e., professional sport limited company). Canal+ became the majority shareholder in 1997 (56.7%) and then sole owner in 2005 after buying out the Association Paris Saint-Germain (34%) and historical club leaders Alain Cayzac, Bernard Brochand and Charles Talar (9.3%). The management of the club fell into the hands of several delegated presidents; Michel Denisot was the first and, by far, the most successful.
Between 1991 and 1998, PSG president Michel Denisot ensured the club's financial health aided by the team's sporting success and increased broadcasting revenues. The departure of Denisot at the end of the 1997–98 season marked a downturn in the club's fortunes. PSG struggled on the pitch and also began to accumulate debt off of it. Despite recapitalizing the club in 2004, it just kept rising. In the time period of 2004–2006, PSG were the only French club with a large amount of debt. Fortunately, this was somewhat helped by an increase in the club's turnover. Led by players such as Marco Simone, Ronaldinho and Pauleta five more trophies arrived between 1998 and 2010, but PSG's on-field form slowly declined. The club even spent two seasons staving off relegations that were only very narrowly avoided.
Eventually, a split from Canal+ became inevitable.[10] In May 2006, Canal+ sold the club to investment firms Colony Capital, Butler Capital Partners and Morgan Stanley for €41m.[12] Colony would go on to buy the majority of shares between 2008 and 2009, becoming 95% owners of the club. Butler retained a 5% stake. After considerably reducing losses, Colony sent out a message in 2010, stating that they were looking for new investors to help make PSG a title contender in the coming years.
Qatar Sports Investments (2011–present)
Qatari takeover
Paris Saint-Germain finally restored balance in June 2011, when Qatari government-backed investment fund Qatar Sports Investments (QSI) bought 70% of the club's shares. QSI is a subsidiary of Qatar Investment Authority (QIA), the country's sovereign wealth fund. Colony Capital (29%) and Butler (1%) remained minority shareholders. Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani, the Emir of Qatar, immediately named QSI chairman Nasser Al-Khelaifi as club president after the takeover. Every major decision goes through Al-Khelaifi first, but Al Thani has the final word. In March 2012, QSI purchased the remaining 30% stake to become PSG's sole shareholder, valuing the club at €100m.
j..Al Thani established QSI in 2005 and is also the chairman of the board of directors of QSI's parent company QIA. He has used the country's oil money to financially back the Parisian club through QSI, the QIA and other state-run companies like the Qatar Tourism Authority (QTA), the Qatar National Bank (QNB) and Ooredoo. PSG are therefore a state-owned club, which makes them one of the wealthiest teams in the world..
The strategy behind Qatar's buyout of PSG was presenting a worldwide image of itself as a great footballing nation before it stages the 2022 FIFA World Cup. In November 2010, right before the vote, UEFA president Michel Platini met with French president Nicolas Sarkozy, the emir of Qatar Al Thani, and the Qatari prime minister. Sarkozy is a well-known supporter of PSG, which were then struggling financially under Colony Capital. After that meeting, Platini changed his voting intention, from the US to Qatar, and six months later QSI bought PSG.
PSG went from Ligue 1 strugglers to one of Europe's elite clubs and UEFA Champions League contenders, with the club's Qatari owners splashing out over €1b on players. Since 2011 the club has dominated French football, but the Champions League has so far remained elusive. PSG's massive expenditures have also brought the club several problems with UEFA and its Financial Fair Play regulations (FFP).
First UEFA investigation
In August 2012, PSG signed a huge nation branding deal with the Qatar Tourism Authority (QTA) to promote Qatar. The Qatari government branch agreed to pay PSG €1b over five seasons, including €100m for the first season. The partnership was made official in October 2013, but the contract stipulated two retroactive payments of €100m and €200m for the 2011–2012 and 2012–2013 seasons, respectively, thus wiping their losses for that period.
New signings Thiago Silva, Zlatan Ibrahimović, Edinson Cavani and David Luiz arrived at the club, though not without consequences. In October 2013, UEFA determined that the QTA deal — worth €200m per year and conveniently backdated to cover 2012 — was struck at an artificially-inflated price to help PSG get around UEFA Financial Fair Play Regulations (FFP), which aim to stop clubs spending more than they earn.
In consequence, UEFA's Club Financial Control Body (CFCB) halved the value of the deal from €200m to €100m in April 2014. UEFA's revised valuation saw PSG's deficit for the 2013–14 season reach €107m — more than double the amount allowed under FFP rules, which limit losses to €45m over the last two years. Inevitably, UEFA punished PSG for violating FFP rules in May 2014. FFP sanctions notably included a €60m fine, amongst other sporting and financial measures. In September 2015, UEFA lifted the restrictions imposed on the Parisian club. In August 2016, PSG and the QTA renewed their partnership until June 2019, after their initial four-year contract expired in June 2016.
Second UEFA investigation
In August 2017, PSG activated the €222m release clause of Barcelona player Neymar, making him the most expensive transfer in football history. Later that month, Kylian Mbappé joined PSG from Monaco on loan with option to buy for €180m divided into three installments. He became the second-most expensive player in the world when the deal was completed in May 2022.
UEFA subsequently opened a new Financial Fair Play (FFP) investigation into PSG. In June 2018, UEFA cleared the club of breaching FFP rules, but devalued its Qatar-based deals with the Qatar Tourism Authority (QTA), the Qatar National Bank (QNB) and Ooredoo. The QTA contract went from €100m to €58m. UEFA also warned PSG that the QTA contract would not be taken into account beyond June 2019. The club also brought in the €50 million in player sales that UEFA demanded before the end of June 2018 to adjust to FFP.
