fan ratings reveal public’s take on psg’s champions league final heroics against arsenal
Following Paris Saint-Germain’s second consecutive Champions League title, secured Saturday in Budapest against Arsenal (1-1, 4-3 on penalties), a significant number of fans cast their votes, evaluating the performances of the players in this historic final. These public assessments were generally more generous than those provided by sports journalists.
After an arduous final clash where PSG emerged victorious over Arsenal in Budapest, more than 15,000 online participants offered their ratings for Luis Enrique‘s squad. The Spanish coach, now a three-time Champions League winner, received an impressive average score of 7.6 from the public, notably higher than the 6.0 awarded by sports analysts.
Following PSG’s equalizer, the influence of João Neves became undeniable. The Portuguese midfielder was a constant presence in challenges until the final whistle, earning him the highest rating from the online community (7.2). This sentiment was echoed by journalists, who also gave him a 7. Trailing closely, Marquinhos (6.6) and Willian Pacho (6.6) completed the top three for the Parisian side according to fan votes. The Brazilian captain also received a 7 from the press, while Pacho was given a 6.
With all scores at 6 or higher, Achraf Hakimi (6.2) and Nuno Mendes (6.0) rounded out a defensive unit that was particularly well-regarded by the voting public. However, opinions diverged concerning the Portuguese full-back, who received a 4 from journalists, primarily due to his missed penalty during the shootout.
Fabian Ruiz, psg’s lowest-rated player by fans
In the attacking lineup, only Fabian Ruiz (5.8) received a score below 6.0 from the fans. The Spanish player likely suffered from a shaky start to the match, marked by several turnovers and a lack of composure. In midfield, Vitinha, who was substituted due to cramps, earned a solid 6.4 from the public, significantly higher than the 5.0 he received from journalists. Despite being relatively untested throughout the game, goalkeeper Matveï Safonov still impressed online voters, who gave him a 6.2, compared to just 5.0 from sports reporters.
Upfront, the forwards also benefited from the public’s leniency. Désiré Doué and Ousmane Dembélé each garnered a 6.1, while journalists had assigned them a 5.0. Khvicha Kvaratskhelia also stood out with a 6.2, slightly surpassing the 6.0 from the press, particularly for winning the penalty that allowed PSG to equalize.
