The streets of Paris erupted last night not just with joy but with a familiar tension that speaks to deeper divides. As PSG lifted the trophy, thousands flooded the Champs-Élysées, waving flags and chanting. But for many, the victory was a brief escape from the cost-of-living crisis squeezing household budgets.
Away from the glitz, workers on zero-hour contracts and struggling families watched the fireworks from their windows, wondering how they will afford next week's rent. The police clashed with groups of youths, some angered by being priced out of the stadium experience. This is not just about football.
It is about a city where the price of bread rises faster than wages, and where celebrations mask the cracks in the real economy. Unions have already warned of strikes ahead. The champagne corks may pop, but for ordinary Parisians, the hangover is just beginning.
