Matvei Safonov saved four consecutive penalty kicks in shootout to help Paris Saint-Germain beat Flamengo in The World Cup final on Wednesday and win the sixth cup of 2025.
The Russian goalkeeper was booed by his teammates after his actions in the penalty shootout that won 2-1 for PSG after a 1-1 draw after extension.
It completed a trophy-laden 12 months for the French side, who had already won the Trophée des Champions, Ligue 1, Coupe de France, Champions League and UEFA Super Cup – also on penalties against Tottenham in August.
Khvicha Kvaratskhelia PSG took the lead in the 38th minute earlier Marquinhos had a penalty converted by Jorginho in the 62nd minute before Flamengowho was going to win another title in the international cup after 1981.
Flamengo captured Copa Libertadores and Brazilian championships in recent weeks.
It was PSG’s first World Cup title.
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PSG backup goalkeeper Safonov had not played a minute for the team until summer signing Lucas Chevalier injured his ankle at the end of November.
Chevalier was fit enough to make the bench against Flamengo, but Safonov kept his place and ended up being the hero in the penalty shootout after consecutive saves from 0:00. Saul Niguez, Pedro, Leo Pereira and Luiz Araujo.
Of the nine penalties taken, only three were scored – First Flamengo by Samuel Lino and then Know it and Nuno Mendes for PSG.
Ousmane Dembelecrowned Men’s Player of the Year 2025 at the FIFA Awards on Tuesday, was one of two players to fail to score for PSG.
European race
PSG’s success preserved the winning streak of European teams in the final of the Intercontinental Cup, which was played for more than 40 years until 2004 before it was renamed as Club World Cup.
FIFA reinstated the Intercontinental Cup last year after revamping the Club World Cup as a 32-team summer tournament which was the inaugural edition this year – with PSG losing the final to Chelsea.
The last non-European team to win either the FIFA Club World Cup or a repeat of the Intercontinental Cup was Corinthians in 2012.
Flamengo titles
Despite the loss, Flamengo still returns from the Intercontinental Cup with two trophies – awarded by FIFA for winning matches between countries to reach the final.
Flamengo beat Cruz Azul in what organizers billed as the “Derby of the Americas.” Then the Brazilian champions beat Pyramids 2-0 in what was essentially a play-off to reach the final and win the ‘Challenger Cup’.
The Intercontinental Cup featured the six continental champions in each FIFA confederation. PSG, which Champions League champion in Europewent straight to the finals.