Paris Saint-Germain’s 2025-26 campaign has been a relentless highlight reel, producing goals of jaw-dropping artistry that have defined their march to the Champions League final. With the showdown against Arsenal looming on Saturday in Budapest, L’Equipe assembled a panel of experts — former PSG defenders Maxwell and Ricardo, along with ex-Serbian striker Danijel Ljuboja — to rank the eight most beautiful strikes of the season. Their verdict, fused with a dose of subjectivity, celebrates a team that seems to score not just goals, but masterpieces.
1. Dembélé’s Divine Scoop: Topping the list is Ousmane Dembélé’s impudent chip in a domestic match, a goal that lifted the Parc des Princes crowd to its feet in collective disbelief. The sequence began with a high press and a through ball from Désiré Doué. Dembélé needed just five touches: an inside dribble past two defenders and then the perfect scoop over the onrushing goalkeeper. Maxwell, the elegant Brazilian full-back turned pundit, called it “technically, a wonder. He creates the space with feints, then executes a shot requiring exceptional finesse and softness. The proximity to the goal makes it even more incredible.” His compatriot Ricardo added: “What’s stunning is how quickly he reads the goalkeeper’s position. The delicacy of the execution is just unbelievable.”
2. Kvaratskhelia’s ‘Special’ vs Chelsea: In the 86th minute of a tight Champions League last-16 first leg, Khvitcha Kvaratskhelia slammed the door with a signature moment. Picking up the ball wide, he used an outside-of-the-foot dribble and micro-feints to shake off Malo Gusto before rifling an unstoppable shot into the net. Ricardo placed it just behind Dembélé’s effort: “We’ve seen him do this dozens of times, but the speed of execution makes it impossible to defend. It’s breathtaking.” Maxwell noted its importance: “The goal was magnificent, and in that scenario, so crucial for PSG’s season.”
3. Neves’ Bicycle Kick at Toulouse: On August 30, João Neves announced himself with a hat-trick capped by an acrobatic bicycle kick that defied logic. Rather than controlling the ball or passing back, the midfielder launched himself into a lightning-fast overhead strike. “Ninety percent of players would have laid it off,” said Ljuboja. “But you can instantly see he meant it — and you only pull that off after 150,000 repetitions in training.” Maxwell highlighted his spatial awareness: “What makes it incredible is his speed and his ability to know exactly where the goal is.”
4. Kvaratskhelia’s Maradona-esque Slalom vs Atalanta: Against Atalanta in Bergamo, the Georgian channeled his inner Diego Maradona. Starting with a feint and burst past Berat Djimsiti, he covered half the pitch in seven touches, rounded the keeper, and found the net. Ricardo laughed: “It truly is ‘Kvaradona.’ Beyond the pace, it’s the reading of the space and the audacity to try it.” Ljuboja was effusive: “He has one of the widest skill sets I’ve ever seen. He’s probably the best player in the world right now. To run with the ball from that deep requires total confidence.”
5. Dembélé’s Classique Thunderbolt: In a “Classique” showdown against Marseille, Dembélé morphed into his Barcelona self. Isolated on the right, he used his signature outside-foot dribble, a devastating change of direction, and then a furious right-footed strike into the top corner. Ricardo saw a striker in supreme form: “It had everything — speed, power, technique.” Ljuboja drew parallels to Lionel Messi: “The way he waits for the defender and then cuts outside reminds me of Messi against Boateng. But none of that matters without being two-footed, and Dembélé is.”
6. Vitinha’s Iniesta Throwback vs Tottenham: With PSG trailing 1‑0 and looking flat, Vitinha conjured a moment of pure inspiration. From outside the box, he met a cross with a first-time, right-footed strike that curled into the net, evoking Andrés Iniesta’s famous winner at Chelsea in 2009. Ljuboja emphasized the technical difficulty: “As a right-footer, hitting that cleanly from a left-sided cross is all about perfect timing and body positioning.”
7. Doué’s ‘Papin-esque’ Piledriver vs Nantes: Désiré Doué has made a habit of violent, sudden strikes, and his goal against Nantes was the epitome. From an acute angle, he harnessed a slight bounce to unleash a ferocious volley that rocketed into the top corner. The jury admired the audacity and raw power, a goal that echoed former Marseille great Jean-Pierre Papin’s flair for the spectacular.
8. Nuno Mendes’ Dead-Ball Beauty: Rounding out the ranking is Nuno Mendes’ curling free-kick at Lille, a set-piece that bent over the wall and left the goalkeeper stranded. While it may have drawn fewer superlatives than the top entries, it underscored the depth of PSG’s goal-scoring repertoire.
These eight goals are not merely decorations on a dominant domestic campaign; they are the flagships of a side that marries tactical discipline with unbridled creativity. As they prepare to face Arsenal in the Champions League final, Parisian fans will hope for at least one more entry to this gallery of wonders. For now, the season’s finest moments, crystallized by a trio of sharp-eyed judges, remind us why we watch.
Based on reporting from L'Equipe.