It was a momentous occasion for Paris Saint-Germain as they clinched the UEFA Champions League title for their first time in the club’s history. The Parisians were in red-hot as they stormed past Inter Milan in the Munich final.
The 5-0 drubbing of the Serie A giants registered the biggest win for any team in a Champions League final.
Achraf Hakimi’s opener set the stage for Luis Enrique’s team at the Allianz Arena with teenage superstar Desire Doue adding a superb double. Late goals from Kvicha Kvaratskhelia and substitute Senny Mayulu piled the misery on Inter and triggered wild celebrations.
Following the match, former Manchester United defender and football pundit Rio Ferdinand, spoke to TNT Sports, and he singled out Doue with an audacious claim.
“A really special mention for Doue, a 19-year-old kid playing on the biggest stage like it’s a playground at the back of his house.
“We’ve had two players who dominated world football for many, many years of our generation in Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo.
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“Lamine Yamal going into this was already superstar, but didn’t get to the final. He lit up the quarter finals and the semis.
“Doue’s done it now in the final, have we seen a changing of the guard of the two players likely to be the ‘next players’?”
It has a remarkable season for Doue and Lamine Yamal as the Frenchman stepped up in the UCL final and the latter’s brilliance helped Barcelona win La Liga and the Copa del Rey.
Doue & Lamine Yamal: A look at their 2024/25 season stats
Doue moved to PSG last summer from Rennes and instantly became a crucial member of Luis Enrique’s system, with 15 goals and nine assists in 54 appearances across all competitions.
Meanwhile, Lamine Yamal netted 18 goals and provided 21 assists in 55 appearances this season. The 17-year-old has also recently signed a new contract with La Blaugrana, which will keep him in Catalonia until 2031.
The pair have the capability and skillset to achieve great things, but Ferdinand’s co-pundit – and former Liverpool captain – Steven Gerrard, stated it’s ‘very dangerous’ to make such comparisons.
However, Ferdinand justified his point by saying,” My point is we’ve been sitting here saying the next two people are going to be Haaland and Mbappe [and Vinicius maybe] and one or two others.
“These two have come out of nowhere and stolen the show, you would have never have said that a year ago.”
Lionel Messi & Cristiano Ronaldo news and related links
