Matvey Safonov (foto: Getty Images)
PSG reserve goalkeeper Matvey Safonov saved four consecutive penalties to win the Intercontinental Cup, a historic feat that could reshape the battle for the No.1 spot in Paris.
Paris Saint-Germain claimed the Intercontinental Cup after a gruelling and unexpectedly demanding contest against Flamengo, with the trophy decided by a penalty shootout that crowned an unlikely hero: Matvey Safonov.
The PSG reserve goalkeeper delivered a performance for the ages, saving four penalties in succession — a feat never before achieved in a FIFA-organised competition. His shootout masterclass not only secured a trophy PSG had never previously won, but also ignited a new debate over the club’s goalkeeping hierarchy.
A historic parallel
Safonov’s achievement immediately evoked memories of one of football’s most iconic goalkeeping moments. In 1986, Helmut Duckadam famously saved four penalties to hand Steaua Bucharest a sensational European Cup final victory over Barcelona. Nearly four decades later, Safonov matched that legendary benchmark on the global stage.
For PSG, the Intercontinental Cup follows their first-ever triumphs in the Champions League and the European Super Cup, marking a historic sequence of titles for the Parisian club.
A new dilemma in goal
Remarkably, this was only Safonov’s fourth appearance of the season. Since Gianluigi Donnarumma’s departure, PSG’s first-choice role has belonged to Lucas Chevalier, signed from Lille. Chevalier missed the final against Flamengo while recovering from an ankle injury, opening the door for Safonov to step in — and seize the spotlight.
How this heroic display will influence the pecking order between the posts now represents a genuine dilemma for the European champions, with Safonov having delivered a statement performance under the highest pressure.
One of few Russians in EU football
Safonov is among a small number of Russian players who moved to Western Europe following the outbreak of the war in Ukraine. PSG signed the goalkeeper from Krasnodar in July 2024 for €20 million, a transfer that quickly took on political significance.
Since that summer, PSG have also included Ilya Zabarnyi, the Ukrainian defender who has spoken publicly about the war and described Russia as an occupying force. Against that backdrop, Safonov’s presence in Paris has carried additional sensitivity beyond football.
According to recent squad lists from Russia coach Valery Karpin, only two Russian players currently compete in the European Union: Safonov and long-time Monaco midfielder Aleksandr Golovin.
For one night in Paris, however, geopolitics faded into the background. In a moment reminiscent of Lev Yashin, Matvey Safonov stood alone — gloves raised — as the man who delivered PSG another piece of history.