President Emmanuel Macron received Paris Saint-Germain players at the Élysée Palace on Sunday to celebrate their second Champions League title [1].

The victory marks a historic shift in French football, as the club has secured consecutive European championships in a short window. This achievement elevates the club's status from a domestic powerhouse to a dominant force in international sports.

PSG secured the trophy on Saturday, May 30, 2026, in a final against Arsenal [2]. The match ended in a 1-1 draw after extra time, with PSG eventually winning 4-3 in a penalty shootout [3]. Following the victory, more than 45,000 supporters gathered at the Parc des Princes for celebrations [2].

During the reception, Macron said the team's performance was the pride of the entire nation [1]. He highlighted the speed of the club's ascent to the top of European football, a feat he noted was previously unseen in the country's sporting history.

"Yesterday, France did in two years thanks to PSG what we had not done in our history in 70 years of football, thank you for that," Macron said [4].

The president's remarks focused on the prestige the victory brings to France on the global stage. The reception served as the official state recognition of the club's back-to-back success [1].

“"Yesterday, France did in two years thanks to PSG what we had not done in our history in 70 years of football."”

The back-to-back Champions League titles represent a rare era of dominance for a French club in a competition historically led by Spanish and English teams. By framing the victory as a national achievement rather than just a club success, the French government is leveraging the sport to bolster national prestige and cultural influence.