Teen Sensation Desire Doue Shines Bright in Paris Saint-Germain’s First-Ever UCL Victory
Paris Saint-Germain finally did it. On a warm night in Munich, the French giants made history, lifting their first-ever UEFA Champions League trophy with a jaw-dropping 5-0 win over Inter Milan in a total masterclass of performance.
A Dream Start for PSG
The match kicked off at the Allianz Arena with PSG wasting no time. Just 12 minutes in, they were on the scoreboard. Portuguese midfielder Vitinha slipped a smooth pass to 19-year-old Desire Doue, who squared it perfectly for Achraf Hakimi to slot home. Hakimi didn’t celebrate out of respect for his old club, Inter Milan.
That goal set the tone for the evening, and it was also the fastest goal in a Champions League final since 2019.
Eight minutes later, Doue took matters into his own hands. After receiving a pass from Ousmane Dembele during a quick counterattack, his shot deflected off Inter defender Federico Dimarco and flew past the goalkeeper. Just like that, it was 2-0, and PSG were in total control.
Doue’s confidence, energy, and precision made it clear why Coach Luis Enrique chose him over the more experienced Bradley Barcola in the starting lineup.
Inter Falls Apart After the Break
Inter Milan struggled to get anything going. Their only real chance in the first half came from Marcus Thuram, who missed a header at a corner. But any hope they had was crushed in the second half.
At 63 minutes, Dembele flicked a clever pass to Vitinha, who set up Doue for his second goal of the night. That made it 3-0, and the teenager walked off the pitch to a standing ovation shortly after.
More Goals, More Glory
PSG wasn’t done yet. Ten minutes later, Dembele fed Georgian winger Khvicha Kvaratskhelia, who raced forward and smashed in the fourth goal. Then came the final nail in the coffin: 19-year-old substitute Senny Mayulu linked up with Barcola and fired home a stunning fifth goal in the 86th minute.
The 5-0 scoreline marked the biggest win ever in a Champions League final. PSG also became the first team to score five in a final since Benfica in 1962.
A Team of Youth, Built for Glory
“This means everything. It’s our dream. It’s incredible. The result is not by magic. I’m happy we did it like this,” said Vitinha after the game.
Coach Luis Enrique, now a two-time Champions League winner after his 2015 success with Barcelona, praised the bond within his squad:
“It was the objective since the start of last season to make history. I have felt a really strong connection with the players and the supporters,” he told Canal Plus.
What makes this win even more special is that it came after Kylian Mbappé’s departure. Many doubted PSG would stay competitive, but this youthful squad proved everyone wrong. Over the last two years, they’ve been carefully built, and this season, they exploded onto the scene.
A Rough Night for Inter
For Inter Milan, it was a nightmare evening. Coach Simone Inzaghi admitted PSG deserved the win, saying:
“We are very disappointed. PSG outplayed us. I thanked the players for what they did this season. We won no silverware, but I’m proud.”
This was Inter’s second final in three seasons and their second defeat. To make things worse, they also missed out on the Serie A title to Napoli just a week ago. With an aging squad, it’s clear a rebuild is needed.
This unforgettable night wasn’t just about lifting a trophy, it marked the rise of a new PSG. With young stars like Doue, Kvaratskhelia, and Mayulu leading the charge, and a tactical mastermind like Luis Enrique at the helm, the future looks electric for the French side.
By Yockshard Enyendi
