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Luis Enrique led Paris Saint-Germain to back-to-back Champions League titles and have been dominant all over Europe. Is it a dynasty in the making?
A year ago, Paris Saint-Germain won their first-ever UEFA Champions League in dominant fashion, thrashing Inter Milan in the final. PSG have always been dominant, particularly in Ligue 1, where the French giants have built a dynasty of their own. However, they had always been contenders in Europe and never quite got the job done. Since Luis Enrique’s appointment, things have changed.
They reached the UCL Final in 2020 but lost to a historically dominant Bayern Munich squad. Since then, it has been an up-and-down journey for the French giants. But after retooling the squad and backing the vision of the man on the touchline, PSG have been on an upward trajectory, consistently dominating both domestically and against Europe’s biggest clubs.
How Did Luis Enrique Transform Paris Saint-Germain?
From the late 2010s to the early 2020s, PSG always had the tools to win the biggest trophy in Europe. With the likes of Neymar Jr., Kylian Mbappe, and even Lionel Messi for a time, they were always viewed as one of the favorites, but they never won it.
In 2023, Messi and Neymar left, while Luis Enrique and Ousmane Dembele arrived.
A transformation began. A season later, Mbappe left for Real Madrid, and the rest is history. Built around a cohesive squad, mainstays like Marquinhos and Achraf Hakimi remained outstanding. Dembele reached another level and led the attack, while Khvicha Kvaratskhelia and Desire Doue emerged as major threats.
The midfield transformation was also notable. Vitinha developed into one of the best midfielders in the world. Fabian Ruiz provided stability, while Joao Neves quickly established himself as one of the brightest young midfielders in Europe. That core is immense. The backline has also been incredibly steady, with Nuno Mendes and Hakimi thriving on opposite flanks, while captain Marquinhos and youngster William Pacho have formed a reliable wall in central defense.
Before long, PSG were dominating Europe. They won the Champions League in 2025 for the first time and captured almost every trophy possible. Who would have thought three years ago that Ousmane Dembele would win the UCL with PSG without Mbappe, while also beating him to his first Ballon d’Or?
Thanks to Luis Enrique’s vision, PSG are now dominant not only domestically but across Europe as well.
How PSG Won Back-to-Back UEFA Champions League Titles
Entering the 2025-26 season, there were plenty of hungry clubs looking to dethrone PSG as European champions. PSG began the campaign by losing to Chelsea in the Club World Cup Final, leading many to believe their playstyle had finally been exposed. But as the season progressed, the flair, cohesiveness, stability, and dominance remained.
During the UCL league phase, they did just enough. But once the knockout rounds began, the dominant PSG side that everyone feared returned. A steady defense, a midfield that seemed impossible to dispossess, and an attack that no defense could contain.
In the Round of 16, they dominated Chelsea and avenged their Club World Cup Final loss. A flurry of goals in the first leg gave them a 5-2 victory, and at Stamford Bridge, they followed it up with a dominant 3-0 win. They did the same in the quarterfinals, defeating Liverpool 2-0 in both legs to secure a 4-0 aggregate victory.
The semifinal clash against Bayern was different, however. Despite a high-scoring first leg, Paris showed another level. A dangerous Bayern attack led by Harry Kane and Michael Olise pushed them to their limits, but Dembele, Doue, and Kvaratskhelia delivered when it mattered most. PSG emerged with a thrilling 5-4 victory in the first leg before showing stability and composure in the second, earning a 1-1 draw that was enough to book their ticket to Budapest.
Their final test was against Premier League champions Arsenal. The North London club had conceded only six goals throughout their entire UCL campaign prior to the final. With one of the best backlines in the world, Arsenal frustrated PSG for much of the first half and took a 1-0 lead through Kai Havertz.
In the second half, PSG took control. While they were not as threatening as they had been in previous rounds, they found a way back into the match and earned a penalty that Dembele converted. The match eventually went to penalties, where PSG showed composure and lifted the Champions League trophy for the second consecutive year.
Is PSG Building a Dynasty in Europe Under Luis Enrique?
It has been an eventful three-plus years for Paris Saint-Germain. The departures of several stars and a brief period of uncertainty ultimately led them here. Luis Enrique has transformed PSG into an unstoppable force in Europe.
Based on the level of performances they have shown over the last two seasons, there are little to no teams that can match this squad. Their core is entering its prime years, and this could become the new normal for years to come. At 29, Dembele is at the peak of his powers, and among their starting XI, only Marquinhos and Fabian Ruiz are in their 30s. It is the perfect blend of experience, youth, and a manager whose leadership has completely reshaped the club.
PSG have always been a dynasty in France, but now we can confidently say they are building one in Europe as well.
Banner Images from Paris Saint-Germain on Facebook.
Frequently Asked Questions
Luis Enrique rebuilt PSG around a cohesive, team-first system after the departures of Neymar, Lionel Messi, and Kylian Mbappé. He elevated players like Ousmane Dembélé, Vitinha, and João Neves into world-class performers, creating a squad with a stable defense, a dominant midfield, and a dynamic attack that won the UEFA Champions League in both 2025 and 2026.
PSG’s core under Luis Enrique includes Ousmane Dembélé, Khvicha Kvaratskhelia, and Désiré Doué in attack; Vitinha, Fabián Ruiz, and João Neves in midfield; and Nuno Mendes, Achraf Hakimi, William Pacho, and captain Marquinhos in defense. Dembélé has been the standout performer, winning the Ballon d’Or alongside the club’s consecutive Champions League titles.
PSG progressed through the 2025–26 UCL knockout rounds by defeating Chelsea 8-2 on aggregate in the Round of 16, Liverpool 4-0 on aggregate in the quarterfinals, and Bayern Munich 6-5 on aggregate in the semifinals. In the Budapest final against Arsenal, PSG came from behind, equalized through a Dembélé penalty, and won the trophy on penalties.
PSG have long dominated French football, but back-to-back UEFA Champions League titles in 2025 and 2026 mark their arrival as a genuine European dynasty. With a young, settled core and a manager whose system has consistently outperformed Europe’s elite clubs, PSG are widely regarded as the continent’s dominant force heading into the 2026–27 season.
Contrary to expectations, PSG improved significantly after Kylian Mbappé’s departure for Real Madrid. Luis Enrique’s squad-first approach elevated previously underutilized players, with Ousmane Dembélé emerging as the team’s central figure. PSG subsequently won the Champions League in consecutive seasons, with Dembélé also claiming the Ballon d’Or ahead of his former teammate.