UEFA Champions League 2025–26: Paris Saint-Germain Secure Second Title
The 2025–26 UEFA Champions League concluded in spectacular fashion at the Puskás Aréna in Budapest, where Paris Saint-Germain (PSG) emerged victorious to claim their second title. The tournament, which spanned from the qualifying rounds in July 2025 to the grand finale in May 2026, showcased the pinnacle of European club football, featuring 82 teams from 53 different associations.
The competition followed a rigorous path, beginning with qualifying rounds and transitioning into a comprehensive league phase before reaching the high-stakes knockout stages. The final match saw a tense encounter between Paris Saint-Germain and Arsenal, ending 1–1 after extra time before PSG secured the trophy in a 4–3 penalty shootout.
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Key Facts
- Champions: Paris Saint-Germain (2nd title)
- Runners-up: Arsenal
- Final Venue: Puskás Aréna, Budapest
- Top Scorer: Kylian Mbappé (Real Madrid) with 15 goals
- Best Player: Khvicha Kvaratskhelia (Paris Saint-Germain)
- Best Young Player: Arda Güler (Real Madrid)
- Total Matches: 189
- Total Attendance: 8,377,696 spectators
Tournament Structure and Qualification
The tournament was divided into several critical phases to determine the ultimate champion. The League Phase consisted of 36 teams, including automatic qualifiers based on association rankings and title holders of the UEFA Champions League and UEFA Europa League.
The Road to the League Phase
Teams entered the competition through various stages based on their domestic league positions and association coefficients:
- First Qualifying Round: 28 champions from lower-ranked associations.
- Second Qualifying Round: Split into the Champions Path and League Path.
- Third Qualifying Round: Further filtering of teams to narrow the field.
- Play-off Round: The final hurdle before the league phase, featuring both Champions and League paths.
League and Knockout Phases
The league phase saw 36 teams compete, with the top eight advancing directly to the Round of 16. Teams ranked 9th to 24th entered the Knockout Phase Play-offs to compete for the remaining eight spots in the Round of 16.
The knockout stages progressed through the Round of 16, Quarter-finals, and Semi-finals, culminating in the single-match final in Budapest on May 30, 2026.
Tournament Statistics Summary
The 2025–26 season was marked by high scoring and massive global interest, averaging 3.47 goals per match.
| Category | Detail |
|---|---|
| Total Teams | 82 (from 53 associations) |
| League Phase Teams | 36 |
| Total Goals Scored | 655 |
| Average Attendance | 44,326 per match |
| Final Score | PSG 1–1 Arsenal (PSG won 4–3 on penalties) |
Frequently Asked Questions
Who won the 2025–26 UEFA Champions League?
Paris Saint-Germain won the tournament, securing their second title after defeating Arsenal in a penalty shootout in the final.
Who was the top scorer of the tournament?
Kylian Mbappé, playing for Real Madrid, was the top scorer with a total of 15 goals.
Where was the final match held?
The final took place on May 30, 2026, at the Puskás Aréna in Budapest.
Which players received individual awards?
Khvicha Kvaratskhelia of Paris Saint-Germain was named the Best Player, and Arda Güler of Real Madrid was named the Best Young Player.
How many teams participated in the league phase?
A total of 36 teams competed in the league phase of the tournament.