“Champion mon frère!” This is how President Emmanuel Macron celebrated the victory of PSG in the Champions League final against Inter Milan (5-0) in Munich, Germany, on the evening of May 31.
“Champion mon frère! A glorious day for PSG! Congratulations; we are all proud. Paris, the capital of Europe tonight,” he tweeted immediately after the final whistle. “This success marks a historic milestone for French football on the European scene and crowns the commitment of an entire club and its supporters,” added the Élysée, announcing that the team and former players would be received by the head of state on Sunday.
“PSG, pride of our entire country, a collective joy, unforgettable,” tweeted Prime Minister François Bayrou. “May the celebration be beautiful and may everyone ensure the safety of all. Thoughts go out to law enforcement.” “It’s a historic moment for football,” praised Sports Minister Marie Barsacq to Agence France-Presse. “PSG made us thrill during those 90 minutes. Tonight, PSG is at the top of Europe.”
“The Big Day Has Finally Arrived”
The triumph of the Parisian club, which lifted the “big-eared trophy” for the first time in its history, was of course applauded in the football world.
Kylian Mbappé, Real Madrid striker and former PSG star, shared his excitement on Instagram. “The big day has finally arrived. The victory, with the flair of an entire club. Congratulations @PSG!”
“Paris Saint-Germain takes its place in the golden book of football,” President of the French Football Federation Philippe Diallo enthused on X. “This victory is historic, a triumph of talent and the joy of playing.”
“PSG’s victory in the Champions League is a tremendous pride for French football. It rewards the demand, the work, and the ambition of a club that, for over a decade, has positioned itself to compete with the greatest institutions in European football,” asserted Vincent Labrune, president of the Professional Football League, in a statement. “PSG has managed to build a coherent and structured project, combining sporting excellence, economic power, and international influence.”
“Historic”
Across the political spectrum, there was shared enthusiasm for PSG becoming the second French team to lift Europe’s most prestigious cup, thirty-two years after Olympique de Marseille’s triumph in 1993.
“Paris is on top of Europe after this magnificent victory,” reacted Rachida Dati, Minister of Culture. “What a match! What a victory! The game was full of emotion, youth, and, above all, teamwork,” exclaimed Yaël Braun-Pivet, President of the National Assembly.
Paris Mayor Anne Hidalgo, who was absent in Munich, lauded the victory as “historic”: “What a fantastic match, what a spirit on the pitch, and what happiness for Paris!” Others on the left celebrated the triumph. “Tonight, there’s no doubt, Paris is magical,” wrote Olivier Faure, first secretary of the PS. “I share the joy of the supporters and French football,” added Fabien Roussel, leader of the PCF.
Even on the right, the sentiments were equally enthusiastic. “Nothing to say, great football, great PSG, respect to the Parisians!” commented Laurent Wauquiez, President of the Republican deputies. Jordan Bardella, leader of the National Rally, also expressed his joy over PSG’s victory: “Thirty-two years after the OM’s feat, a French team wins the Champions League.”