With the final against Inter Milan in less than two weeks, France legend Thierry Henry addressed how Paris Saint-Germain winning the UEFA Champions League would impact in the Ligue 1.
Paris Saint-Germain are set to face Inter Milan in the 2024–25 UEFA Champions League final, marking just the second time the French club has reached this stage. Amid growing financial concerns in French football, legend Thierry Henry addressed how a PSG victory could significantly impact Ligue 1.
The Ligue de Football Professionnel (LFP) is currently facing a difficult economic climate. Several clubs are burdened with debt, some nearing bankruptcy, and the league has struggled to secure consistent broadcasting deals. At the beginning of the season, DAZN signed a five-year contract to stream Ligue 1 games, but the deal was terminated just nine months later, further fueling uncertainty.
During CBS Sports’ UEFA Champions League Final preview call—attended by World Soccer Talk—Thierry Henry was asked about the broader implications of a PSG victory. The Arsenal and France legend didn’t hold back: “It means everything for what it represents in terms the TV deals, with a lot of the clubs struggling in the league. It’ll bring more awareness, sponsorships, and it would be, more importantly, another Champions League title. We only have one in France and that’s Olympique Marseille.”
Henry also acknowledged the mixed emotions among fans in France: “The only people who wouldn’t want PSG to win are Marseille fans, because they’re still the only ones to have won the Champions League. But if you’re French—and a proper fan of French football—you’d want PSG to win.”
“It’s also vital for the league. When you have a strong PSG, it creates rivalries, it creates derbies and it’d help a lot. PSG in the final, with a chance to win it with all the trouble we’re facing in French football in terms of TV rights and financial health, it would be vital,” Henry concluded.
The Champions League final between PSG and Inter will take place on Saturday, May 31, at the Allianz Arena in Munich, Germany. The match represents a pivotal moment not only for PSG’s ongoing project under president Nasser Al-Khelaifi but also for the broader future of Ligue 1. A victory could help validate the club’s long-term investment and lift French football at a time when international visibility and financial security are both at stake.
Where to watch: PSG vs. Inter Champions League Final
Fans in the United States can catch the UEFA Champions League final live on the CBS Television Network and Paramount+. PSG have eliminated European powerhouses like Manchester City, Liverpool, and Arsenal en route to the final, while Inter Milan knocked out giants like Bayern Munich and Barcelona.
Additionally, legendary rock band Linkin Park will headline the pre-match show ahead of the Champions League Final. With fireworks on stage and on the field, this could be one of the most impactful Champions League finals in years—both on and off the pitch.
