Phenomenon: PSG versus the Premier League power

PSG's win against Arsenal on penalties in the Champions League final was not merely a clash of two teams; it was a battle between continental Europe and England, between supporters and the Premier League.

Perhaps that assessment is not entirely correct. After all, the whole world watches the Premier League. That is why the US television contract alone is reportedly worth $2.7 billion over six years, equivalent to $450 million per year. This figure is many times greater than the revenue Ligue 1 clubs earn in France, where a series of failed negotiations forced clubs to launch their own streaming service.

That is why Premier League teams, especially those that usually finish mid-table, can win almost every bidding war for players against clubs of similar stature in Spain, France, or Italy.

This is clearly demonstrated when mid-tier teams meet in lower European competitions. Premier League representative Aston Villa convincingly won the Europa League, thereby earning a return to the Champions League, after defeating Freiburg (3-0). In the Conference League final, Crystal Palace crushed Rayo Vallecano in a match where the Spanish club could not play at home due to flooding. Most tickets still had to be purchased directly at the stadium because the club had not invested in online infrastructure.

This is the second consecutive time a Premier League team has won this young competition, and the third time in five editions. The dominance of English football on the continental stage is being replicated worldwide. Such successes are good for the English football product, but not good for the idea of continental competitions.

You don't need to be a sports expert or an economist to see that clubs with big-spending owners can indeed find the best players and recruit them to play for their team. If things don't go well on the pitch? They still win trophies, making the brand even stronger.

According to statistics from the newspaper Marca, Premier League clubs spent over €3.5 billion on player recruitment in the summer of 2025, far surpassing Serie A's €1.1 billion and making France's €636 million look very frugal.

The prize money from winning the Champions League back-to-back will help paper over any cracks in PSG's financial foundation that the Ligue 1 TV deal has exposed. However, despite all that, neutral fans still have an easy reason to support PSG, and not just because they break England's monopoly on European titles.

Now, the entire football world is focused on the World Cup, but come August, when people start thinking about Champions League title contenders, there will be only two real groups of candidates: PSG and the wealthy Premier League clubs—teams that can turn global reputation into European dominance.