A Look at Why PSG Wil Not Be Keeping The Original UEFA Champions Trophy

Paris Saint-Germain finally reached the pinnacle of European football by winning the UEFA Champions League for the first time in the club’s history. After years of near misses and heartbreaks, they delivered a stunning performance in Munich, Germany, thrashing Inter Milan 5–0 in a final that was as one-sided as it was historic.

Inter Milan, to their credit, had a solid campaign, knocking out giants like Bayern Munich and Barcelona on their way to the final. Having reached this stage just two seasons ago, they were hoping to make amends. But things quickly fell apart for the Italian side.

Achraf Hakimi and young sensation Désiré Doué scored within the opening 20 minutes, setting the tone early. Doué added another after halftime, before Khvicha Kvaratskhelia and teenager Senny Mayulu rounded off the scoring.

As the final whistle blew, PSG fans in Paris and around the world erupted in celebration, marking a night that will go down in club history.

However, despite their incredible achievement, PSG will not be allowed to keep the original Champions League trophy.

So, why is that?

It all comes down to UEFA’s rules. Marquinhos, PSG’s captain and the club’s longest-serving player, was the first to lift the trophy for the Parisians. But according to UEFA regulations, the original trophy stays with UEFA. Clubs are only given a replica to display.

Historically, UEFA allowed clubs to keep the actual trophy if they met one of two conditions: either they won the tournament five times overall, or they won it three years in a row. Only a handful of clubs have ever met these conditions.

For example, Real Madrid famously won the first five editions of the European Cup from 1956 to 1960 and were given the original trophy in recognition.

Ajax followed in the early 1970s with three consecutive wins. Bayern Munich did the same from 1974 to 1976. AC Milan and Liverpool also earned the right to keep the trophy after collecting five titles each.

The UEFA rules regarding the Champions League trophy

Up until 2009, the original Champions League trophy became permanent property of UEFA. Even clubs that meet the old criteria are no longer allowed to keep it. Instead, winners receive a replica, while UEFA keeps the original for ceremonial use, such as the trophy handover before each final.

This change means that even Barcelona, who won their fifth Champions League in 2015, were not allowed to keep the original. UEFA instead created a “badge of honour” system to recognise clubs with elite European records. You’ll see this badge on the sleeves of clubs like Real Madrid, who currently sport the number 15 on theirs to represent their record 15 titles.

According to UEFA’s official regulations, the original trophy is used only for specific events and photo opportunities. After the final, it is immediately returned to UEFA, and the winning club is given an exact replica for a limited time. They’re also allowed to create smaller versions for display, but these copies must be clearly marked and not the same size as the original.

How many clubs have the original Champions League trophy?

Only five clubs in total have ever kept an original version of the trophy. Following Real Madrid, Ajax secured theirs by winning three titles from 1971 to 1973.

Bayern Munich then did the same from 1974 to 1976. AC Milan were given their original after their fifth win in 1994, and Liverpool joined the group in 2005 with their legendary comeback win over AC Milan in Istanbul. These clubs were all awarded the trophy before the 2008 rule change.

PSG’s victory, although historic, comes under the new regulations. This means they’ll proudly display a replica in their trophy cabinet but will not hold on to the original. UEFA’s decision to centralise ownership of the trophy was aimed at preserving its legacy and ensuring uniformity in how it is presented and protected.

So, what’s next for PSG after this historic win?

The newly crowned European champions will soon return to action in the revamped FIFA Club World Cup, set to be held in the United States. PSG will play in Group B alongside Atletico Madrid (Spain), Botafogo (Brazil), and Seattle Sounders (USA).

The top two teams from the group will advance to the Round of 16, where PSG will be hoping to carry their Champions League form into the global stage.

Although they won’t be taking the original UEFA trophy home, PSG have finally joined the elite ranks of Champions League winners and that alone is a massive milestone for a club that has been chasing this dream for decades.