Saturday`s Champions League final features an abundance of individual skill. Paris Saint-Germain has become unexpectedly popular among neutral fans precisely because they have so many somewhat lesser-known players (and a few who are rightfully acclaimed) who have formed a significantly more effective unit compared to many of their star-studded teams from the past.
Inter, meanwhile, has demonstrated their quality consistently over three seasons, reaching the Champions League final twice. In 2022, they narrowly missed out, losing by just one goal to Manchester City in the previous final. Can they succeed this time? They certainly possess significant talent in both attack and defense, sufficient to win close encounters against teams like Barcelona and Bayern Munich.
Here are five players likely to make a significant impact in the final:
1. Ousmane Dembele, PSG
Arguably among the world`s top players this season, Ousmane Dembele has been the standout performer epitomizing PSG`s impressive campaign. It`s not that he wasn`t a talented player alongside stars like Kylian Mbappe or, during his time at Barcelona, Lionel Messi. Injuries hampered his progress, and perhaps he was limited by playing a supporting role alongside bigger names. That is no longer the case. Dembele has secured a pivotal role in Luis Enrique`s plans and starting lineup.
Since switching to the central striker position in January, the 28-year-old has been unstoppable. In 19 games leading the PSG attack since the turn of the year, Dembele has recorded 18 goals and four assists, averaging an impressive 5.15 shots and 0.98 non-penalty expected goals per 90 minutes. While these numbers are partially boosted by his Ligue 1 performances, he has also delivered on the biggest stages.
A slow start to the group stage meant PSG has been in knockout mode since December, and with the stakes at their highest, Dembele has delivered. He turned the tide against Manchester City, scored a crucial equalizer when it seemed Liverpool might dominate in the round of 16, and silenced the Emirates Stadium crowd. Across their last 10 crucial Champions League matches, they have gotten eight goals and three assists from Dembele. Without their No. 10 transitioning from a talented but inconsistent player to a match-winner on the grandest stage, it`s hard to picture PSG reaching a second final.
And when they do take the field, it will be clear who the most impactful player on the pitch is, the one that necessitates tactical adjustments from the opposition. Dembele, often a supporting character, is now the main attraction of this Champions League final.
2. Khvicha Kvaratskhelia, PSG
Potentially challenging him for that status is the player on his left flank. Khvicha Kvaratskhelia single-handedly disrupts defenses, capable of frustrating opponents intensely, leading them to foul him not out of tactical necessity, but simply to stop the player who has been outplaying them.
Jurrien Timber faced similar challenges in the first leg of the semifinal. The Arsenal right-back had been one of Europe`s best one-on-one defenders this season, dominating Bradley Barcola when PSG visited the Emirates in the group stage. For 20 minutes against Kvaratskhelia, the best he could do was repeatedly foul him. Then again, considering what Kvaratskhelia did to Aston Villa when they failed to get close enough, fouling him might seem like a viable strategy.
It`s worth noting that Kvaratskhelia is notably disciplined despite his immense talent, a diligent worker who is perfectly willing to track back and defend against Denzel Dumfries up and down the PSG left. However, that`s not what will capture attention. There`s a reason he was nicknamed `Kvaradona` upon his arrival from Batumi, where he was instrumental in leading Napoli to their first Serie A title in 33 years.
There are moments of brilliance in the Georgian`s play. If anyone is going to provide a memorable, highlight-reel moment like Gareth Bale`s bicycle kick or Zinedine Zidane`s volley in this final, it`s Kvaratskhelia.
3. Lautaro Martinez, Inter
That we began with two PSG attackers should not imply a lack of quality in the Inter squad, certainly not with Lautaro Martinez given his form in the Champions League. The Argentine has scored in every round of the knockouts so far, returning impressively from a muscle injury to feature prominently in the thrilling 4-3 semifinal second leg victory against Barcelona.
The 27-year-old embodies this Inter team: experienced in high-pressure situations, perhaps past his absolute peak after many years at the top level, but possessing the tactical awareness and quality to perform in the biggest moments. His partnership and understanding with Marcus Thuram in a two-striker system will challenge PSG in ways they seldom encounter at the top level of European football, and Martinez approaches his second final in three years with confidence.
“We need to analyze [PSG`s] strengths and weaknesses, which we can exploit to make it a great match and final,” he stated. “Above all, we need to savor the moment, because it`s been a difficult competition and we`ve reached the final twice in the past three years, so we deserve it. We`ve put in the work, remain humble, and want to keep improving.
To experience another final of this magnitude, in this competition, is going to be incredible. It`s a dream that is within our reach again, and one that has been missing from Inter for such a long time. I truly want to enjoy the moment, this final, this game. Then if it comes to fruition, it`ll be a dream come true.”
4. Yann Sommer, Inter
Then again, for all the excellence of their attacking players, it`s difficult to imagine Inter reaching this stage without Yann Sommer in goal. Across 13 Champions League games, he has conceded 11 goals but prevented 5.23 expected goals, based on the difficulty of the shots he has faced. He hasn`t just inflated his stats against weaker teams either. His performances in key knockout matches include:
- vs. Manchester City: faced five shots on goal, made five saves, prevented 1.2 goals
- vs. Arsenal: faced four shots on goal, made four saves, prevented 1.65 goals
- vs. Bayern Munich (two-legged quarterfinal): faced 13 shots on goal, made 10 saves, prevented 0.21 goals
- vs. Barcelona (two-legged semifinal): faced 19 shots on goal, made 14 saves, prevented 1.74 goals
It`s no easy feat to outperform Gianluigi Donnarumma in this season`s Champions League. What Sommer has delivered is truly remarkable.
As was evident to anyone who saw him at Euro 2020, this is a goalkeeper who shines on the biggest stages. Sommer might already have peaked with the stunning display where he limited Barcelona to just three goals in the second leg of the semifinal, with accurate dives to his right to stop Lamine Yamal, perhaps even surpassed by a point-blank save that left Eric Garcia in disbelief. For a man of 37 years, his agility and quickness to cover his goal and maintain balance enable him to make crucial saves others might only parry.
Considering PSG`s dominance in possession and attacking threat, Sommer is likely to be busy, having faced an average of 4.4 shots on his goal per 90 minutes in the Champions League this season. He has consistently performed for Inter in crucial moments. They will surely need him again on Saturday.
5. Achraf Hakimi, PSG
With one spot remaining, many players could be chosen. Alessandro Bastoni is arguably the world`s best ball-playing center back. Vitinha could be considered the best midfielder currently. While this final may lack Premier League giants, Spanish powerhouses, or some former PSG stars, it is certainly not short on talent. There`s ample quality across both squads.
Ranking highly among these top players is Achraf Hakimi, a vital component of this PSG team. Inter, where he previously played as a right wing-back before joining PSG in 2021, is well aware of his capabilities. Just as he was in Milan, Hakimi can operate effectively as a complete right-sided player when needed.
Certainly, he is highly effective in attack, third in the team for penalty box touches, behind only Barcola and Dembele. A full-back averaging over two shots per 90 minutes represents a significant attacking threat, particularly when struck as cleanly as his goal against Arsenal in the semifinal second leg. Though that came from broken play, it highlights one of Hakimi`s key strengths: his ability to move infield and create danger, just as he does when overlapping. While many full-backs excel at overlapping runs, an increasing number can also impact the game with underlapping runs and by moving into central areas. As his touch map indicates, Hakimi is proficient at both.
As Hakimi, now in his seventh season playing for an elite European club, has developed, his defensive abilities have significantly improved. His ability to effectively counter-press when caught high up the pitch contributes to making PSG one of the most effective elite teams without the ball. Only 10 players across the league have regained possession in the attacking third more often than the Moroccan this season, none of whom are defenders. If he is forced to track back, his athleticism allows him to recover effectively. If he can gain the upper hand against Bastoni and Federico Dimarco, potentially forcing Dimarco to prioritize defense over his attacking contributions, Hakimi could be as influential in this match as any other player.
