The match at Ahmad bin Ali Stadium in Doha was a balanced and hard-fought contest. Khvicha Kvaratskhelia opened the scoring for PSG in the first half, while Jorginho, a former Arsenal and Chelsea midfielder, equalized from a penalty in the second half.

The 1-1 scoreline held through extra time, leading to a penalty shootout. In the shootout, Russian goalkeeper Matvei Safonov emerged as the hero, saving four Flamengo shots and securing a 2-1 victory for PSG. Safonov became the first PSG goalkeeper in the 21st century to save four penalty kicks in a single shootout.

Goalkeeper Matvei Safonov is lifted by his teammates after PSG's victory over Flamengo in the Intercontinental Cup final at Ahmad bin Ali Stadium, Doha, Qatar on 17/12. Photo: PSG

Under coach Luis Enrique, PSG has maintained a perfect record in penalty shootouts, winning all four. This includes victories over Lens in the French Cup in December 2024, Liverpool in the Champions League in March 2025, Tottenham in the European Super Cup in March 2025, and most recently Flamengo in the Intercontinental Cup.

This latest title capped off a brilliant 2025 for PSG, following their earlier triumphs in the French Super Cup, Ligue 1, French Cup, Champions League, and European Super Cup. Winning six titles in a single calendar year is an unprecedented achievement in the club's history. This feat also brought PSG's total wins in 2025 to 50, establishing a new team record. PSG is only the second team in European league history to win six titles in a single calendar year, a feat previously achieved by Barca in 2009.

PSG claimed their 39th title in history, making them the most successful men's club in France. All 39 of these titles have been won since Qatar Sports Investments took over the club.

PSG players lift the Intercontinental Cup trophy. Photo: PSG

Winning the Intercontinental Cup also concluded a successful trip to Doha for PSG. Earlier, the club had received several awards at the FIFA The Best 2025 ceremony: Ousmane Dembele was named Player of the Year, Luis Enrique received the Best Coach award, while Achraf Hakimi, Nuno Mendes, Willian Pacho, Vitinha, and Dembele featured in the Team of the Year.

After the match, coach Luis Enrique stated that the Intercontinental Cup was a fitting reward for PSG's spirit and consistency throughout their historic 2025 season. He emphasized the strong bond between the team and its fans, noting that their unwavering support is always present, from Parc des Princes to away games. According to him, PSG possesses the right balance of experience and youth, a crucial factor contributing to their continuous success.

"This is great, but we must continue moving forward," said the 54-year-old coach. He added that the entire team would soon focus on their remaining French Cup match against lower-division club Vendee Fontenay Foot before the Christmas break.

Hong Duy