More than 15,000 fans rated every player in the thrilling Paris Saint-Germain victory over Arsenal in Budapest, revealing a clear divide between public opinion and editorial scoring.
In a nerve-shredding final that ended 1-1 after extra time before PSG prevailed on penalties (4-3), supporters from across the globe took to the polls to grade the performances of Luis Enrique’s side. The Spanish tactician, who secured his third Champions League crown, earned a 7.6 from the fans—a full point above the editorial panel’s score.
Top performers in the eyes of the fans
The online audience showered praise on PSG’s midfield trio. João Neves, whose relentless energy turned the tide after Arsenal’s opener, topped the charts with a 7.2. The young Portuguese was closely followed by captain Marquinhos and defender Willian Pacho, both receiving a 6.6. While the editorial team matched Neves’ rating, Marquinhos was given a 7 in their column, with Pacho trailing at 6.
The defensive unit also drew strong marks, with Achraf Hakimi (6.2) and Nuno Mendes (6.0) both surpassing the 6-point threshold. Hakimi’s composure contrasted sharply with Nuno Mendes’ penalty miss in the shootout, which earned him a 4 from the journalists despite a higher fan rating.
Goalkeepers and attackers split opinions
Matveï Safonov, who saw limited action but made a crucial save in the shootout, was rated 6.2 by supporters, while the editorial team awarded him just 5. Vitinha, who left the field with cramps, received a 6.4 from fans—well above the 5 given by reporters. Fabian Ruiz, struggling in midfield, was the only Parisian player to dip below 6, with a 5.8.
Up front, Ousmane Dembélé, Désiré Doué, and Khvicha Kvaratskhelia all earned 6.1, 6.1, and 6.2 respectively, outperforming the editorial scores of 5 each. Kvaratskhelia’s penalty claim, which sparked PSG’s comeback, boosted his standing with supporters.
Arsenal’s disappointing ratings
Arsenal’s players fared far worse in fan ratings, with an average of just 4.9 compared to the editorial 5.0. Kai Havertz (5.8), David Raya (6.1), and William Saliba (5.9) were the Gunners’ bright spots, matching the panel’s 6.0 score. Declan Rice (5.3) and Gabriel (5.0) received lukewarm reviews, while Mikel Arteta was the least popular figure on the pitch, earning a 4.1.
The fans reserved their harshest judgment for Arsenal’s attackers: Bukayo Saka (4.5), Viktor Gyökeres (4.2), and Jurrien Timber (4.6) all struggled to impress. Midfielders Mosquera (4.4) and Trossard (4.4) were also heavily criticized, rated 3 by the editorial team but slightly more leniently by the public.
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