Why PSG winning the Champions League would mean so much for football

They may no longer boast Lionel Messi, Neymar, or Kylian Mbappé, but make no mistake, PSG are the favourites to finally claim the UEFA Champions League crown.

Yes, it’s true - they came perilously close to seeing their dream slip away on Tuesday evening. Aston Villa gave them an almighty scare, clawing back from two goals down to secure a 3-2 victory on the night.

However, it wasn’t enough for the Birmingham-based side to outclass the Parisians over two legs, as PSG edged through to the semi-finals with a 5-4 aggregate win.

The PSG of old would likely not have advanced and crumbled under the pressure at Villa Park. For years, PSG's Qatari ownership, led by Nasser Al-Khelaifi, relentlessly pursued Europe’s most prestigious trophy, pouring vast sums into assembling squads filled with superstar talent.

The days of marquee signings like Neymar, Mbappé, and Messi arriving in Paris with the weight of European glory on their shoulders are behind them. Even legends like Sergio Ramos, a four-time Champions League winner with Real Madrid, couldn't turn those ambitions into reality. Season after season, the dream remained just out of reach.

Now, with a fresh approach, PSG’s prospects have transformed. Instead of relying on individual brilliance, they have built a unified squad - a team that has stamped its authority on this year’s Champions League knockout stages.

They dismantled Brest with a staggering 10-0 aggregate victory in the play-offs, outclassed a formidable Liverpool side in the round of 16, and, just last night, despite falling to Villa on the night, showcased a style of football that feels like a lost art.

Under Luis Enrique, PSG have rekindled the magic of the game. They play with flair, purpose, and a willingness to take risks. It’s a refreshing antidote to the cautious, soulless five-yard pass factory that has dulled modern football.

As Gary Neville recently lamented, today’s players are often “micro-managed to within an inch of their lives.” PSG’s stars, however, are liberated to thrill, to create, and to entertain.

Khvicha Kvaratskhelia, who only moved to the French capital in January, epitomises this ethos. A throwback to the days of Ronaldinho, Eric Cantona, and Thierry Henry, the Georgian dazzles with moments of pure invention. His unpredictability is a joy to watch, a rare gem in an era of rigid tactical systems.

Then there’s Ousmane Dembélé, who has stepped out of the shadows cast by PSG’s past megastars to become their main man. This season, the French forward has 32 goals and 10 assists in 42 games - 24 of those goals in 2025 alone. He’s electrifying, deadly, and the heartbeat of a front three completed by Kvaratskhelia and the exciting young talents of Bradley Barcola or Désiré Doué.

PSG’s midfield, too, has been world-class. Fabian Ruiz, Vitinha, and João Neves are masters of their craft, balancing relentless pressing with precise, incisive passing.

Watching them is a masterclass in modern midfield play - rarely sideways, never backward, always forward and decisive. Vitinha, in particular, has been outstanding this campaign, using his intelligence and special awareness to devastating effect.

If PSG have a weakness, it’s at the back. Gianluigi Donnarumma, for all his brilliance, has moments of fragility, and while captain Marquinhos brings stability and leadership, the defence lacks the aura of invincibility.

Still, they are resolute when it matters, and Donnarumma, despite his occasional shakiness, remains a match-winner – just take a look at his three crucial second half saves on Tuesday to stop Villa drawing level in the tie.

He’s also a bit of a master when it comes to penalties. England fans, still scarred from his heroics in the Euro 2020 final, need no reminder of that.

Arsenal or Real Madrid await in the semi-finals, with the former having already bested PSG earlier this season during the league phase.

Should Arsenal advance on Wednesday, they will undoubtedly draw confidence from that victory at the Emirates. However, Enrique’s side have grown significantly since that setback, evolving into a far more formidable force.

They’ve shed the excess, found their identity, and built a team that plays football the way it was meant to be played - with heart, soul, and a commitment to entertaining the masses.

A PSG triumph would feel like a victory for football itself if they finally secure continental silverware. In an era where the game often leans toward systematic, robotic, rinse-and-repeat formulas, PSG stand out by doing things differently - a genuine throwback to football’s golden days.