Paris welcomes its ‘sublime’ champions on the Champs Elysees

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Smoke rising as the Paris St Germain players celebrate after winning the Champions League on the bus during the victory parade. PHOTO: REUTERS

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Paris St Germain players and coach Luis Enrique celebrate after winning the Champions League on the bus during the victory parade. PHOTO: REUTERS

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Smoke rising as the Paris St Germain players celebrate after winning the Champions League on the bus during the victory parade. PHOTO: REUTERS

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UPDATED Jun 02, 2025, 04:42 AM

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PARIS - Paris St Germain held a victory parade on the Champs Elysees for thousands of cheering supporters on June 1 after crushing Inter Milan 5-0 to win their first Champions League title.

Dressed in the club's blue-and-red colours, fans gathered in the French capital's most famous avenue to welcome their Parisian heroes. The players showed off the coveted trophy from their open top bus and joined in the crowd's singing.

"We are the champions!", "Ici c'est Paris!" (Paris is here) and other chants reverberated throughout the avenue.

The squad then headed for the nearby Elysee palace where they were greeted by President Emmanuel Macron.

"You won this Champions League, and you did it in a sublime, phenomenal way. You are the champions, and you put Paris at the top of Europe. And it was magnificent," Mr Macron said.

"We all felt the excitement. There were 11 of you on the pitch, but there was clearly a 12th man - the French public ... regardless of traditional allegiances."

PSG's young team achieved what the likes of Lionel Messi, Neymar and Kylian Mbappe could not do in their colours, becoming only the second French side to win the trophy after Olympique de Marseille in 1993.

"It's unbelievable," said one fan Leo Rogue, 22, standing in the middle of the packed crowd in a vintage PSG top. "I don't have the words ... We've been waiting for this for a long time."

France’s President Emmanuel Macron kisses Paris Saint Germain’s Qatari president Nasser al-Khelaifi (right) during the reception at the Elysee presidential palace in Paris on June 1. PHOTO: AFP

Police capped numbers at 100,000 for security reasons.

Some youngsters climbed on scaffolding or news stands to better take in the moment.

Jamel, 55, was disappointed to be stopped near an entrance to the parade as numbers had reached a maximum, but was not letting that spoil his celebration.

"Yesterday I partied and today I'm partying," he said.

Wild celebrations erupted across the French capital and beyond on May 31 night, although skirmishes with police later threatened to spoil the party.

Paris St Germain players celebrate after winning the Champions League on the bus during the victory parade. PHOTO: REUTERS

The club condemned violence on X. "Paris St Germain calls on everyone to show responsibility and respect, for that historic win to remain a moment of pride shared by all," it said.

Celebrations continued on June 1 evening at the Parc des Princes stadium. REUTERS

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