The 2026 UEFA Champions League Final in Budapest delivered high drama, historic moments, and several remarkable statistics as Paris Saint-Germain overcame Arsenal to claim European football’s biggest prize.
One of the standout moments came when Ousmane Dembele converted from the penalty spot during normal time. His successful effort became the 18th penalty awarded in UEFA Champions League final history, excluding penalty shootouts. Of those 18 penalties, 13 have now been converted whilst five have been missed, underlining the pressure associated with football’s biggest club fixture.
The shootout itself produced an unusual statistic. Arsenal’s Eberechi Eze and Gabriel both failed to convert their penalties, yet neither miss was recorded as a save. Eze dragged his effort wide of the post whilst Gabriel sent his attempt over the crossbar. As a result, both penalties were officially registered as off-target misses rather than goalkeeper saves.
David Raya was the only goalkeeper to make a save during the shootout. The Arsenal goalkeeper denied one PSG penalty and briefly kept his side’s hopes alive before Gabriel’s miss ultimately handed the trophy to the French champions.
Another notable statistic belonged to Kai Havertz. The Arsenal forward found the net in the final and became one of the few players in Champions League history to score in finals for two different clubs. Havertz had previously scored the winning goal for Chelsea against Porto in the 2021 final before finding the scoresheet again on Europe’s biggest stage, wearing Arsenal colours.
Dembele’s influence throughout the campaign reached its peak in Budapest. Already one of PSG’s most decisive performers during the knockout stages, the French forward once again delivered under pressure, further boosting his credentials in the race for football’s major individual honours.
For Arsenal, the defeat extended an unwanted European record. The Gunners have now lost both UEFA Champions League finals they have contested, having previously fallen to Barcelona in Paris twenty years earlier.
PSG’s triumph further strengthened French football’s standing on the continental stage. The Parisian club added another European title to their growing collection and continued to establish themselves among the most successful clubs of the modern era.
The victory also enhanced Luis Enrique’s reputation as one of football’s most accomplished managers. The Spaniard added another Champions League title to his résumé and joined an elite group of coaches to have enjoyed repeated success at the highest level of European football.
The final was played before a packed Puskás Arena, with thousands of supporters transforming Budapest into the centre of the football world throughout the week. The Hungarian capital once again demonstrated its ability to host one of the sport’s most prestigious occasions.
Malta Sport was present in Budapest throughout the build-up and on match day itself, bringing supporters exclusive coverage, fan reactions, interviews, and behind-the-scenes content directly from the Champions League final venue.
Whilst PSG celebrated another memorable chapter in their history, Arsenal were left wondering what might have been. The records, milestones, and dramatic penalty shootout ensured that the 2026 UEFA Champions League final will be remembered as one of the competition’s most captivating showpieces.
