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European heavyweights Paris Saint-Germain and Arsenal will clash in a blockbuster UEFA Champions League final this evening at the iconic Puskas Arena in Budapest, with both clubs chasing history on football’s grandest stage.
Defending champions PSG are aiming to become the first French club to successfully retain the European crown, while Arsenal are seeking a long-awaited first Champions League title, 20 years after suffering heartbreak in their only previous final appearance.
Under the guidance of Luis Enrique, PSG have evolved into one of Europe’s most feared teams, thriving on collective brilliance rather than individual superstardom. Enrique, who is chasing a third Champions League triumph as a manager, has guided the French champions through a ruthless knockout run that saw them eliminate Monaco, Chelsea, Liverpool and Bayern Munich.
The Parisians have been devastating in attack throughout the campaign, scoring 44 goals in the competition — just one short of Barcelona’s all-time single-season record. PSG have also found the net in 27 consecutive matches heading into the final, underlining the firepower that has made them favourites to lift the trophy once again.
Despite ending their Ligue 1 campaign with a narrow defeat to Paris FC, PSG had already wrapped up the domestic title and arrive in Budapest with confidence soaring.
For Arsenal, the final represents both redemption and the chance to complete a historic season under Mikel Arteta. The Gunners have been one of the standout sides in Europe this term, going unbeaten throughout the Champions League campaign while recording a competition-best nine clean sheets.
Arsenal’s road to Budapest included impressive victories over Bayer Leverkusen, Sporting Lisbon and Atletico Madrid, as Arteta’s men combined defensive discipline with attacking efficiency to reach their first final since 2006.
That painful defeat to Barcelona in Paris still lingers in Arsenal folklore, but Arteta now has the opportunity to succeed where his former mentor Arsene Wenger fell short by delivering European glory to the Emirates Stadium.
The Premier League champions head into the showdown in excellent form, having won five consecutive matches across all competitions, including a final-day victory over Crystal Palace before lifting the English top-flight title.
Today’s final also carries added intrigue following PSG’s semi-final triumph over Arsenal last season. However, Arteta’s side did defeat the French giants during the league phase earlier in the campaign, setting the stage for a tantalising rematch with Europe’s biggest prize at stake.
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With PSG chasing dynasty status and Arsenal desperate to finally conquer Europe, Budapest is set for a thrilling Champions League final between two of the continent’s elite clubs.
They are both chasing history, with Arsenal looking for its first top-tier European crown, and PSG eyeing back-to-back titles, something only Real Madrid has accomplished since the tournament was rebranded as Champions League in 1992.
The game features two of the most valuable soccer clubs in the world, with Arsenal ranked No. 7 at $5.43 billion and PSG slotted next at $5 billion in Sportico’s top 50 soccer club rankings. Both teams should earn at least $160 million in prize money for making the final. The Champions League winners receive €25 million ($29 million, based on current exchange rates) with the runner up at €18.5 million ($21.5 million). That is on top of the prize money and “value pillar” payments already earned during the tournament from UEFA.
PSG made a total of $169 million for last season’s title, while runner-up Inter Milan nabbed $160 million. This year’s $2.9 billion prize money pool is up 1.2% over last season.
Arsenal is part of Stan Kroenke’s sports empire with teams worth a combined $23 billion. Kroenke Sports & Entertainment (KSE) holdings include the NFL’s Los Angeles Rams, the NBA’s Denver Nuggets, the NHL’s Colorado Avalanche, MLS’ Colorado Rapids and National Lacrosse League’s Colorado Mammoth. Kroenke started to acquire Arsenal shares in the mid-2000s and became the sole owner in 2018. The club had three straight second-place finishes in the Premier League before this season’s EPL title ended a 22-year drought.
Only three EPL clubs have won the domestic and European titles in the same season, with Liverpool and Manchester United both securing the “double” twice, including the pre-EPL and Champions League era. Manchester City was the last during the 2022-23 season. Arsenal’s on-field success has goosed club revenue in recent years. It posted record revenue of £690 million, or $909 million based on the average exchange rate during the 2024-25 season, which is up 87% from three years earlier.
Broadcast revenue was the biggest revenue stream during the 2024-25 season at $360 million, followed by commercial ($347 million) and matchday ($203 million). At $22 million, Arenal was one of only four EPL clubs to post an operating profit last season. The club’s EPL title and Champions League run will boost broadcast revenue further for 2025-26. Arsenal is expected to earn £199 million ($266 million) in payments from the Premier League, based on projections by The Athletic.
PSG built a massive global brand with superstars Lionel Messi, Neymar and Kylian Mbappé on the roster. Those players are gone, which has helped the bottom line with payroll down from a peak of $824 million.
Commercial revenue from sponsors and merchandise is still among the highest in the world at $415 million for the 2024-25 season. PSG has more than a dozen stores around the world, including in New York, London, Paris, Las Vegas, Doha and Tokyo.
The club has flexed its financial muscle to win the Ligue 1 title in 12 of the past 14 seasons after Qatar Sports Investments bought the team in 2011—PSG won two titles in the four decades before QSI took over. PSG’s 2024-25 revenue of $945 million was the fourth highest in soccer, behind only Real Madrid ($1.3 billion), FC Barcelona ($1.1 billion) and Bayern Munich ($971 million). PSG’s revenue was also four times that of Marseille, which had the second highest revenue in Ligue 1.
