Mbappe's curse

PSG successfully defended their Champions League title after overcoming Arsenal on penalties, and much of Europe is talking about Kylian Mbappe.

A curse emerged during the penalty shootout—a form of magic that may seem unfair, yet appears to truly exist. At least in football. It is the "Mbappe curse," named after the captain and greatest scorer in PSG's history, who left the club to join Real Madrid dreaming of conquering the Champions League.

The 2025-26 Champions League final kicked off at 6 PM European time to capitalize on the Asian television market, but it concluded in the classic fashion that defines the Champions League. Under the dazzling lights of the Puskas Arena, in a night forever tied to the beauty of football, after a tense and breathless penalty shootout.

Budapest witnessed a final with an epic feel, as if it condensed three matches into one clash of giants. Arsenal, the most adaptive team in Europe in recent years, often compared to a "chameleon," entered the game defensively after Kai Havertz's sixth-minute goal, and then felt regret when extra time could not stretch any further.

PSG, meanwhile, showed two different versions in the same match. One PSG was full of life after conceding, and another was exhausted toward the end, especially during extra time. This was partly because Luis Enrique's starting lineup was nearly perfect, but his squad depth was not as abundant as his opponent's. Mikel Arteta understood this, so he constantly made substitutions (or flaunted his depth) to counter the possession control that Luis Enrique's team executed.

Then came the penalty shootout, and the "Mbappe curse" was mentioned. Perhaps this is unfair, but fate sometimes enjoys such ironies. Mbappe left Paris in pursuit of the Champions League trophy he had always craved. Yet since his departure, destiny seems to be responding in the bitterest way. PSG has won everything available, including the very title that "Kiki" chased throughout his career. Not just once, but twice in a row—something only ever associated with Real Madrid.

This season's Champions League ends with a very clear message. In modern football, there is no single winning formula. Any style can take you to the summit. A message for Florentino Perez and Real Madrid themselves.

Coaches are playing an increasingly decisive role, even as technology and data are exploited to the fullest. Success does not come from spending at any cost, but from smart investment, building a well-structured team, and empowering a capable individual to lead the entire project. For PSG, that person is Luis Enrique. A true genius of modern football.

Mbappe left PSG amid controversy, then caused Real Madrid to hold an election for the first time after several terms of Florentino Perez's automatic victories.