Paris Saint-Germain celebrated a historic triumph when backup goalkeeper Matvei Safonov stopped four consecutive penalties to secure a 2-1 shootout win over Flamengo in the Intercontinental Cup final.
A Dramatic Finish
The match finished 1-1 after extra time, forcing a penalty shootout. Safonov, who had not appeared in a match for PSG until Lucas Chevalier’s ankle injury, made four straight saves against Saul Niguez, Pedro, Leo Pereira and Luiz Araujo. The Russian keeper was later lifted in celebration by his teammates.
The Road to the Final
Paris had already completed a trophy-laden year, adding the Trophée des Champions, Ligue 1 title, Coupe de France, UEFA Champions League and UEFA Super Cup to its collection. The Intercontinental Cup, revived last year after the Club World Cup was re-branded as a 32-team summer tournament, had seen PSG defeat Chelsea in last year’s final.
Match Highlights
Khvicha Kvaratskhelia opened the scoring for PSG in the 38th minute. Flamengo’s Marquinhos earned a penalty in the 62nd minute, which Jorginho converted, leveling the score. The two sides were tied at 1-1 when the shootout began.
Only three of the nine penalties were successful: Samuel Lino for Flamengo, and Vitinha and Nuno Mendes for PSG. Ousmane Dembele, who had been named FIFA’s best men’s player of 2025, missed his spot-kick.
A European Sweep
The result continued the trend of European clubs winning the Intercontinental Cup final, a streak that has persisted since the competition’s re-introduction. The last non-European team to win either the Club World Cup or the rebranded Intercontinental Cup was Corinthians in 2012.
Flamengo’s Journey
Flamengo entered the tournament as Copa Libertadores and Brazilian champions. Although they lost the final, they earned two FIFA trophies for inter-confederational victories: a win over Cruz Azul in the “Derby of the Americas” and a 2-0 victory over Pyramids in the “Challenger Cup.”
Significance for PSG
The win marked PSG’s first global title. With the Intercontinental Cup featuring the champions from each of FIFA’s confederations, PSG’s Champions League victory granted them direct entry to the final.
Key Takeaways
- Matvei Safonov saved four penalties to give PSG a 2-1 shootout victory over Flamengo.
- The match ended 1-1 after extra time, with Kvaratskhelia’s goal and Jorginho’s penalty deciding the regulation period.
- PSG’s triumph added a global trophy to a season that already included domestic and European honors.
The final showcased the resilience of PSG’s squad and the pivotal role of a backup goalkeeper stepping into the spotlight. Safonov’s heroics will be remembered as a defining moment in the club’s history, cementing Paris Saint-Germain’s status on the world stage.
