By OkayGoal 
The Champions League trophy will remain in Paris after PSG retained their crown by beating Arsenal in a penalty shootout in the 2026 final.
The Gunners put themselves in a great position to win the competition for the first time ever when Kai Havertz opened the scoring in the sixth minute of the game.
Mikel Arteta’s side could not hold onto their lead, however, as Ousmane Dembele equalised from the penalty spot in the second half.
Neither side could be separated after 120 minutes of action, so the winner had to be decided in the cruelest fashion possible: penalties.
Arsenal’s fate came down to the fifth and final spot kick, but Gabriel Magalhães could not meet the moment, sending his attempt into the night sky as their hopes and dreams flew away.
We’ve picked out some of the best imagery from the decider at the Puskas Arena in Budapest, Hungary, with all photographs via Getty Images.
Champions League final 2026 in pictures as PSG beat Arsenal:
The stage is set.
Arsenal supporters tuned into the game by all manner of means.
This Gooner didn’t have the best view of the game, though.
The PSG fans told us all beforehand they weren’t letting go of the Champions League trophy.
It wasn’t long before the flares came out.
But it was Arsenal who struck the first blow as Havertz fired the ball into the net from an acute angle.
Havertz is just the third players to score in two Champions League finals for different teams.
Bukayo Saka was a touch lucky not to see red for a strong challenge on Desire Doue, but he got away with a booking.
Read – Champions League controversy as Arsenal benefit from handball decisions
Bradley Barcola almost had a sight on goal.
But David Raya smothered the ball expertly.
Disaster struck for Arsenal, though, when Mosquera felled Khvicha Kvaratskhelia in the box.
And Dembele equalises from the spot. Liftoff for PSG.
Read – Arteta: Arsenal could ‘easily’ have had a penalty against PSG
Noni Madueke goes down in the box, but the referee waves his complaints away.
Declan Rice cannot believe that decision.
Arteta gives his players one last team talk before the shootout.
Arsenal, however, were the first to blink. Eberechi Eze won’t want to relive that shot.
Read – PSG ‘want more’ after winning second Champions League title
But Raya immediately saved PSG’s next attempt, diving brilliantly to stop Nuno Mendes.
And here it is from the opposite angle.
Rice put his way with no fuss.
But could Gabriel do the same with Arsenal’s final penalty?
…no.
Marquinhos comforted Gabriel after his compatriot just suffered the worst moment of his career.
Kvaratskhelia leads the celebrations.
This is the face of a man who just won his third Champions League as a head coach. Bravo, Luis Enrique.
One of the most painful journeys you can make as a footballer: the walk past the Champions League as a runner-up.
Mikel Arteta hopes he will be raising the trophy the next time Arsenal make it this far.
Gimme a kiss.
The moment every team dreams of.
Oh captain, my captain.
Read – PSG vs Arsenal: Past meetings and head-to-head record
See Also – Five of Arsenal’s best ever Champions League wins