The champagne corks popped and the roar of triumph echoed across the Champs-Élysées. But for many, the night was not a celebration of football but a bitter reminder of the cost. Paris Saint-Germain’s victory in the Champions League final sparked scenes of joy and protest, cutting the city in two.
On one side, fans draped in blue, red and white, cheering their heroes. On the other, workers and students took to the streets to protest rising rents and the spectacle of a club funded by sovereign wealth. “They spend millions on a player while we can’t afford the rent,” said Amélie Dubois, a cleaner from the 18th arrondissement.
The police turned out in force, but the anger was real. For the working class of Paris, the price of glory is a widening gap. The champagne will soon go flat, but the divide remains.
