For the second year running Paris St-Germain lifted the UEFA Super Cup in Salzburg last night, beating a spirited Aston Villa in an entertaining contest.

The prestigious fixture is played each August to beckon in a new season and pits together the most recent winners of the Champions League and Europa League.

Unsurprisingly, the French champions began the evening as favourites, their side packed with international stars. Villa though acquitted themselves superbly well in Europe last term, beating the likes of Fenerbahçe and Lille along the way.

Sixteen months ago, they bested PSG 3-2 in a famous Champions League night in the Midlands.

The scene therefore was set…

Continental champions collide  

Among PSG’s squad were ten Ballon d’Or nominees and winners from seasons past, three of whom finished the match with a goal involvement to their name.

Cutting in from the left and firing into the roof of Villa’s net, Khvicha Kvaratskhelia opened the scoring in the 19th minute, the Georgian winger twice nominated for a Ballon d’Or, in 2023 and 2025.

Villa went on to equalise via their 17-year-old debutant Brian Madjo – who in doing so became the youngster player to ever score in a Super Cup – but PSG impressively composed themselves and emerged the better team in the second period.

On the hour-mark, Désiré Doué raced onto a Ousmane Dembele through-ball to slot home the game’s winner. The goal was initially disallowed for offside, the decision overturned by VAR.

Chances thereafter were few and far between as the Parisiens closed out the game.

A wealth of options

Going into the clash, PSG boss Luis Enrique admitted that he was unsure how prepared his side was, with so many of his personnel granted time off after a gruelling World Cup.

“I don't know what level my players will have tomorrow after their rest at home”

Indeed, it has been reported that the Spaniard did not decide on his team selection until after PSG’s final training session ahead of Wednesday.

To that end, Ousmane Dembele – the reigning Ballon d’Or champion – was only deployed for the second half, while Fabián Ruiz was given a 15-minute cameo after guiding Spain to their World Cup triumph last month.

Still, even with such considerations, Enrique was spoilt for choice for elite talent, as the list below demonstrates, detailing the Ballon d’Or nominations previously received by his players.

  • Achraf Hakimi - 2025 (6th)
  • Nuno Mendes – 2025 (10th), Kopa nominee 2022 & 2021
  • Marquinhos – 2019 (29th)
  • Vitinha – 2025 (3rd), 2024 (27th)
  • João Neves – 2025 (19th), Kopa nominee 2025 & 2024
  • Fabián Ruiz – 2025 (24th)
  •  Warren Zaïre-Emery – Kopa nominee 2024
  • Désiré Doué –2025 (14th), Kopa nominee 2025
  • Khvicha Kvaratskhelia - 2025 (12th), 2023 (17th)
  • Ousmane Dembele – 2025 (winner)