A Moment Beyond Football: PSG Fans Honor Luis Enrique’s Daughter at Champions League Final
Arguably the most memorable moment of Saturday’s Champions League final had nothing to do with soccer at all.
That’s not to say the action on the pitch didn’t live up to expectation, because it did. Paris Saint-Germain made history with a record-breaking 5-0 win over Inter Milan, claiming the club’s very first European Cup.
There were great moments and magical performances, notably from teenager Désiré Doué, who introduced himself to the world with two goals and one assist on the grandest stage of all.
But all of that paled into insignificance when the PSG fans unfurled a banner behind the goal, as the players and staff celebrated with the trophy in front of them.
The image on the banner was one that sent goosebumps around Munich’s Allianz Arena and undoubtedly made millions of viewers around the world pause for a moment.
The picture on the banner was of PSG manager Luis Enrique and his daughter Xana, who died when she was just nine years old in 2019.
The scene depicted was one from 2015, after Enrique had just won the Champions League as the manager of Barcelona.
Together, Luis Enrique and his daughter Xana had celebrated by planting a Barcelona flag in the center of the pitch—a moment and image that has taken on profound meaning since Xana’s passing six years ago.
Earlier this year, long before the final, Enrique told reporters he hoped to one day recreate that moment after winning the Champions League again, as a tribute to his daughter.
In the end, he didn’t have to; his fans made it happen for him.
“It was very emotional,” Enrique said, maintaining his composure in a post-match interview.
“It was beautiful to know that the supporters had thought of me and my family.”
At the final whistle, the emotion was unmistakable on Enrique’s face.
He almost stumbled onto the pitch, wearing a radiant smile, clearly overwhelmed by winning the Champions League trophy for the second time.
During the celebrations, Enrique donned a black T-shirt featuring a picture of him and Xana—a poignant reminder that put everything into perspective.
His other daughter, Sira Martínez, shared photos on her Instagram Story showing fans wearing PSG jerseys with Xana’s name on the back, a heartfelt tribute from supporters.
he family tragedy six years ago occurred while Enrique was managing Spain. In June 2019, he stepped down from his role to spend more time with his family. A few months later, in August, he announced the heartbreaking news that Xana had passed away.
But speaking to reporters after the game, Enrique said he didn’t need a soccer match or a trophy to think of his daughter.
“My daughter is always with me. She’s here, supporting our family, and I feel her presence even when we lose,” he shared.
“It’s about embracing everything we went through together and finding the positives in a difficult situation.
“That’s our mindset — mine and my family’s. I was thrilled with the victory, but I don’t need a trophy to think of my daughter. She’s always with me.”
PSG Reboot Complete
Despite his personal challenges, what Enrique has accomplished with PSG has been nothing short of remarkable.
When he took over last season, the club was still weighed down by the aftermath of previous management’s strategy of splurging on superstar signings that didn’t necessarily fit the team’s needs.
Then came another setback when star striker Kylian Mbappé left for Real Madrid at the start of this season.
Yet, these challenges turned out to be a blessing in disguise. Freed from managing egos and transfer drama, Enrique could focus entirely on the pitch.
This allowed him to develop a young, cohesive team and build a unity that was tested repeatedly throughout the Champions League campaign.
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