Paris in frenzied celebration as PSG secures historic back-to-back Champions League triumph

Scenes of jubilation mingled with sporadic chaos as thousands of football fans descended upon the heart of Paris following the Paris Saint-Germain side’s dramatic penalty shootout victory over Arsenal in the Champions League final.

The atmosphere crackled with tension and elation as the decisive spot-kick sealed a 1-1 draw (4-3 on penalties) in Budapest. Along the Grands Boulevards and Champs-Élysées, fireworks lit up the night sky while law enforcement scrambled to maintain order amid the celebrations.

A night of mixed emotions: joy, smoke and swift police response

Chants of “Sa-fo-nov, Sa-fo-nov” echoed through the streets as supporters erupted after each successful penalty, with some even setting off fireworks before the final whistle. The celebratory chaos reached its peak when a Brazilian player’s missed attempt left the crowd momentarily stunned—until PSG’s captain converted the winning kick, triggering a surge of fireworks and a hasty retreat from the area as riot police deployed tear gas.

Thick smoke from pyrotechnics mingled with tear gas fumes as fans scattered, their faces stinging while trying to shield themselves from the acrid air. Despite intensified security checks at every access point to the Champs-Élysées, revelers still managed to smuggle in fireworks, lighting up the night with bursts of color.

131 arrests recorded, a significant drop from last year’s chaos

By late evening, the Paris police reported 131 arrests and one injured officer, a stark contrast to the 559 detentions recorded during the 2025 final against Inter Milan. Authorities attributed the relative calm to a combination of experience and scorching heat, with temperatures soaring to 37°C in the afternoon.

“There’s less chaos this time, sure, but it’s not over yet,” commented a CRS officer stationed near Rue du Colisée, as armored police vehicles remained on standby along Boulevard Montmartre well past 11 p.m.

From anticipation to euphoria: the city that never slept

The capital had been buzzing with anticipation hours before kickoff, as tens of thousands of fans clad in PSG jerseys took over the sun-baked streets. Conversations across cafés and public squares revolved solely around the match, with many locals joking about the inevitability of a victory celebration.

By midday, pyrotechnics and mortars were already changing hands on social media platforms, signaling the scale of the revelry to come. Even before the final whistle, the scent of smoke and the sound of car horns filled the air, particularly along Rue La Boétie, one of the few major arteries near the Champs-Élysées that remained open to traffic.

As the night wore on and the streets filled with smoke, an elderly man wiping his irritated eyes turned to his companion and simply said, “I guess PSG won.” The answer was written all over the city.

Fireworks burst as police attempt to disperse the crowd during post-match celebrations.