A Historic Win Beyond Football
Saturday night in Munich, Paris Saint-Germain delivered a masterclass performance, routing Inter Milan 5-0 to secure the club’s first-ever UEFA Champions League title. The final was rich in footballing brilliance—none more so than the coming-of-age performance of 19-year-old Désiré Doué, who scored twice and assisted once. But even amid the euphoria of a long-awaited triumph, it was a deeply emotional gesture from the fans, not the football, that defined the night.
As players lifted the trophy and celebrated before their traveling supporters, a massive banner emerged in the stands behind the goal. It bore the image of PSG manager Luis Enrique and his daughter Xana, who tragically died of bone cancer in 2019 at the age of nine. Captured from a happier time, the image showed Enrique and Xana celebrating Barcelona’s 2015 Champions League win by planting a flag on the pitch—a memory that has since become symbolic for the family.
A Moment Beyond the Game
Luis Enrique, always measured and dignified, had previously expressed a wish to one day recreate that moment with Xana should he ever win another Champions League. On Saturday, he didn’t have to. The PSG faithful did it for him.
“It was very emotional,” Enrique told reporters after the match. “It was beautiful to think that the supporters had thought about me and my family.” Though composed in his remarks, the emotion was evident in the way he stepped onto the pitch, beaming with joy and pride, donning a black shirt featuring the image of him and his daughter.
His daughter Sira also paid tribute on social media, sharing images of PSG fans wearing jerseys with “Xana” emblazoned on the back. The sentiment from fans and family alike turned a sporting celebration into something deeper—an act of remembrance and love that transcended victory.
Healing Through Purpose
Enrique stepped down as manager of the Spanish national team in June 2019 to be with Xana during her illness, later announcing her death that August. On Saturday, he made it clear that her memory is not tied to results.
“My daughter is always with me. She’s here, she’s supporting our family and I feel her presence even when we lose,” he said. “It’s just about grouping everything we went through together and really taking the positives out of a negative situation. That’s our mindset… I don’t need a trophy to think about my daughter. She’s always here with me.”
His words reframed the night’s victory not as a redemption, but as a continuation of love and resilience in the face of tragedy—a reminder of what truly matters, even in the midst of one of the sport’s biggest spectacles.
The Luis Enrique Era at PSG
On the footballing front, Enrique has quietly reshaped the DNA of Paris Saint-Germain. When he took charge last season, the team was bloated with superstar names and weighed down by the drama surrounding Kylian Mbappé’s eventual departure to Real Madrid.
Freed from managing egos, Enrique built a new PSG—one grounded in youth, humility, and tactical discipline. His approach fostered team unity, a trait that proved essential throughout a demanding Champions League campaign. Every challenge was met with collective resolve, a testament to both his leadership and the culture he cultivated.
“Luis Enrique is the man who changed all of PSG,” said fullback Achraf Hakimi. “He’s a loyal human, after everything that’s happened to him. One of the few left in this world. He deserves it more than anyone.”
Doué, the breakout star of the final, echoed the sentiment: “Tactically and mentally, he is a really good coach, unbelievable, and as a human being too. It is a pleasure to work with him.”
An Image That Will Endure
Years from now, the 2025 Champions League final will be remembered not just for PSG’s domination or Doué’s brilliance. It will be remembered for the banner—an image of enduring love between a father and daughter, a moment of raw humanity amid the glamour of elite sport. Luis Enrique’s second Champions League title was historic for PSG, but more profoundly, it was a tribute to a life lost too soon, and the unbreakable bonds that endure.