Paris Saint-Germain (PSG) made history by winning their 11th French league title, securing the record with a 1-1 draw against Strasbourg.
Lionel Messi played a key role, scoring the opening goal and breaking Cristiano Ronaldo’s record for scoring in Europe’s top five leagues with his 496th career league goal in Europe. The draw gave PSG an unassailable four-point lead over second-placed Lens with a game remaining.
Lens beat Ajaccio 3-0 to secure second place and a coveted spot in the Champions League group stage. Meanwhile, Marseille finished third and will enter the qualifying round of the Champions League. Lille moved into the lead for a Europa League spot after beating Nantes 2-1, while Rennes finished fifth with a 2-0 victory over Monaco.
Nantes found themselves on the brink of relegation after a 1-1 draw between Auxerre and Toulouse as the relegation battle intensified. With four teams set to go down this season, Nantes will need victory in the final match to avoid relegation. Angers, Ajaccio, and Troyes had already been abandoned.
PSG’s title triumph marked their ninth league title in the past 11 seasons, cementing their dominance of Qatari-owned French football. The win also surpassed Saint-Etienne’s previous record of 10 titles since 1981. PSG president Nasser Al-Khelaifi expressed his pride at surpassing Saint-Etienne’s record and called it a historic moment for the club.
The victory also held significance for Messi, who was likely to serve as his last game for PSG. Despite facing criticism and suspension earlier in the season, Messi’s goal gave fans a chance to celebrate and add another major trophy to his collection.
Looking ahead, Lens, Marseille, and Lille are set to represent France in European competition next season, with Lens and Marseille in the Champions League and Lille in the Europa League. Nantes face an uphill battle to avoid relegation, while Angers, Ejaccio, and Trieste have already confirmed relegation to Ligue 2.
