A YEAR TO REMEMBER

 

Image Credit- Al-Jazeera.

2025 is coming to a spectacular end for Paris Saint-Germain. After winning the Trophée des Champions, Ligue 1, the Coupe de France, the UEFA Champions League, and the UEFA Super Cup this year, the PSG's men's team just won a sixth trophy in 2025—the most in a single calendar year—by winning a 2-1 penalty shootout after a fierce 1-1 draw with CR Flamengo over 120 minutes.

Copa Libertadores winners Flamengo overcame African champions Pyramids and Mexicans Cruz Azul to earn the chance to play PSG in the final. Remarkably, with a tenacious performance, Flamengo pushed the European champions all the way.

As the game started, PSG felt that they had grabbed the lead in the ninth minute when Fabian Ruiz brilliantly hooked the ball into an empty net after Flamengo goalkeeper Agustin Rossi miskicked a clearance while trying to prevent a corner. But the goal was ruled out by VAR because Rossi had narrowly failed to stop the ball from going out of play. Eight minutes before halftime, PSG managed to break the impasse thanks to another Rossi blunder. Desire Doue's low cross appeared to be too strong for Kvaratskhelia, but the Argentinian turned it right into the Georgian's pass for the easiest of tap-ins.

However, Flamengo managed to stay in the match, and following a VAR review, they were given a penalty for Marquinhos' foul on Uruguay midfielder Giorgian de Arrascaeta at the hour mark. Jorginho, a former player for Chelsea and Arsenal, stepped in and took the penalty wherein he sent Safonov the wrong way.

Bradley Barcola and Ousmane Dembele were sent on by PSG in an attempt to force a victory, which gave Marquinhos a final opportunity. However, the ball flashed across the goal, and the game went into extra time because the center-back was unable to react fast enough to get his effort on target.

In the extra thirty minutes, both teams had half-chances; in the 116th minute, Dembele flashed a shot that was just off target. That made it possible for Safonov to steal the show by filling in for usual first-choice Lucas Chevalier, who is currently recovering from an ankle injury.

With this triumph, Paris Saint Germain also reached the historic milestone of 50 victories in all competitions in 2025—the club's highest total to date. A feat they have never achieved before. Hence, the Parisians will surely remember 2025 for a long time.