Paris Saint Germain’s victory in the Champion’s League final was one for the history books and will forever be etched in the hearts and minds of all. The word ‘CHAMPIONS’ was on show for all to see on a red and blue illuminated Eiffel Tower. PSG’s presence is also very much global, from Qatari club president Nasser Al-Khelaïfi to its Spanish manager Luis Enrique to one of the world’s best Right back players; Achraf Hakimi of Moroccan descent and Academies in 16 countries around the world, including Rwanda.
I predicted a 3-2 win by PSG for the Champions League final, rushing home to watch the coverage on beIN Sports. Little could anyone have predicted how triumphant the team could have been, but after almost 15 years of significant investment, Paris Saint-Germain won the UEFA Champions League trophy on 31st May 2025 with one of the youngest squads, allowing their Qatari owners and the rest of the world to bask in the glory of an emphatic triumph.
The Qatari Connection?
In many ways though, PSG with its Qatari connection shows the ripple effect that investment in sports in Qatar is having in generating results, especially geared at youth. The Middle East Sports and Investment Forum (MESIF), hosted in London on 27th/28th May 25, highlighted that the median age of the population in Qatar is 33 years old, with 15% of the population being aged 0-14. The emphasis from Qatar is to invest in youth. The Qatari National Team football team, nicknamed the “The Maroons”, have won the Asian Cup twice in 2019 and 2023. Qatar also hosted the 2022 FIFA World Cup. H.E. Faris Al Kooheji, Secretary General of the Olympic Committee showcased at MESIF that the Asian Youth Games will take place in Bahrain this year. The Bahrain Olympic Committee (BOC) also has a program to train 10,000 children annually in swimming and has also hosted the Baby Olympics for those aged 2-5 years old.
Qatar Sports Investments (QSI), is one of the leading investment groups in world sport, entertainment, arts and culture is also majority-owner of Paris Saint-Germain and has Luis Campos as its Sports Advisor.
Since joining QSI in 2022, Luis Campos has helped deliver the vision of QSI’s Chairman, Nasser Al-Khelaïfi, over a three year period that has seen Paris Saint-Germain rise in sporting success – including 3 French Ligue 1 titles, 1 Coupe de France title, 3 Trophée des Champions titles, and a Men’s Champions League Final, Semi-Final and Last-16 in the last three years alone – one of the best records in European football. So it’s no surprise that the age of the winning squad was as young as it was, when lifting the Champions League trophy.
PSG President
Nasser Al-Khelaïfi is one of the leading figures in the world of sport, entertainment, media and business. He became the club’s president in 2011, following his appointment as Chairman of Qatar Sports Investments (QSI) and its acquisition of the French football club that year. Nasser Al-Khelaïfi also sits on the board of the French Professional League (LFP) and is a member of the UEFA Executive Committee.
On top of his leading roles within sport, Nasser Al-Khelaïfi is the Group Chairman of beIN MEDIA GROUP, the international sports, entertainment and media group operating in more than 40 countries worldwide. It was under Nasser Al-Khelaïfi’s management that beIN acquired MIRAMAX, the famed Hollywood film and television studio, of which Al-Khelaïfi is Chairman; and also Digiturk, Turkey’s largest sports and entertainment platform.
Nasser Al-Khelaïfi is also a board member of Qatar’s sovereign wealth fund, Qatar Investment Authority (QIA), while also being a Minister of State of Qatar.
In the world of racket sports, he is the President of the Qatar Tennis, Squash and Badminton Federation, and oversees the country’s two biggest tennis tournaments (ATP and WTA) each year. He is also Chairman of Premier Padel, the leading professional tour in padel – one of the world’s fastest growing sports. Nasser Al-Khelaïfi was also a world ranked professional tennis player for many years and represented his country in the Davis Cup.
To add, he is global ambassador for The Youth Sports Games, founded in 1996 to enable children to participate in organised sporting events and other free activities.
He is the also Chairman of the PSG Foundation which supports disadvantaged and sick children, as well as young people and communities in difficulty. Since 2022 he has been a Member Friend of the United Nations (UN) Secretary-General’s Special Envoy for Road Safety.
PSG’s Manager
With the help of Luís Campos, the recruitment chief, Manager Luis Enrique has created a team – and one in the truest sense. Enrique Luis embodies energy and believes strongly in team collaboration. Having been at Barcelona, Roma and having been Head Coach of the Spanish National Team, he joined PSG in 2023, claiming 3 trophies in his first season and he secured his status as one of the all-time greatest managers with PSG’s recent triumph. Luis Enrique commented his side knew “how to unpick teams like Inter, how to get that tight-knit defence to unravel”. He had firm belief in his own approach, he knew how his players would pass and move and he knew when to unleash the 19 year old substitute Senny Mayulu to seal the fifth and 5 star goal, to end the perfect victory for PSG. PSG have spent a lot; £200m to be precise on this quartet alone, though Luis Enrique has proved his true abilities by assembling a team that genuinely play for the team, rather than themselves.
Nutrition Foundations at PSG
At the heart of performance and sporting excellence, lies a foundational commitment towards Nutrition (from Academy upwards). The PSG Qatar Academy partnered with Healthy Kitchen in April this year to offer training and school meal packages for young athletes. At PSG’s Geneva Academy, 90% of ingredients used are fresh using only seasonal vegetables. Sports Nutritionists do meticulous planning creating menus that cater to the needs if young athletes. PSG prides itself in understanding the importance of preparing the body of their athletes and fuelling well to enhance performance and reduce injuries.