Paris, June 01 (QNA) - French President Emmanuel Macron said on Sunday, as he welcomed the players of Paris Saint-Germain to the Élysée Palace, that the club, which defeated Arsenal on Saturday to win the UEFA Champions League for a second consecutive season, was "a source of great pride for the entire nation."

Macron, who is scheduled to meet with the French national football team on Tuesday at Clairefontaine-en-Yvelines ahead of its departure for the 2026 FIFA World Cup, and which includes several Paris Saint-Germain players, said: "Paris Saint-Germain has added two stars to French football. Now, I expect our national team to add a third star to its jersey."

The French president added: "In any case, this evening we are immensely proud of Paris Saint-Germain — its president, its coach, the entire technical staff, its captain and all its players. They achieved what many of us thought was impossible. They did it with heart and passion. They did it while making Paris and the whole country vibrate with joy."

Paris Saint-Germain retained its UEFA Champions League title for a second straight season after defeating the English club Arsenal 4-3 in a penalty shootout in the final. The match had ended 1-1 after regulation and extra time at Puskás Aréna in Budapest, Hungary. (QNA)