European champions Paris Saint-Germain go into Wednesday night's final of the Fifa Intercontinental Cup against the Brazilian champions Flamengo in Doha on the back of a clutch of prizes for their players and coaching staff at the Fifa 'Best' awards ceremony.
Nearly three months after picking up the Ballon d'Or, the sport's most prestigious individual accolade, Ousmane Dembélé was named Fifa's 'Best' men's player of the year.
The 28-year-old France international scored 35 goals and set up 16 others during the 2024-2025 season in which PSG harvested four trophies including the club's first success in the Champions League.
Coach Luis Enrique was hailed as 'Best' coach of the year for guiding the side to those glories.
The 55-year-old Spaniard took over from Christophe Galtier in the Parc des Princes hot seat in July 2023.
By the following July, his squad, which included Kylian Mbappé, had claimed the Ligue 1 title, French Super cup and the Coupe de France.
Following Mbappé's departure for Real Madrid, Enrique reconfigured his resources and the players swept the board domestically for a second season. They also annihilated Inter Milan 5-0 in the final of the Champions League.
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Though Chelsea beat PSG to claim the Fifa Club World Cup in July, PSG responded to the setback with victory against Tottenham Hotspur in the final of the European Super Cup in August.
The Morocco international Achraf Hakimi and the Portuguese internationals Nuno Mendes, Willian Pacho and Vitinha joined Dembélé in Fifa's 'Best' men's team of the year.
"Their presence in the team of the year reflects their consistent performances throughout a year marked by titles, including the club's first Champions League crown," said a PSG statement issued following the Fifa awards ceremony in the Qatari capital Doha.
On Wednesday night at the Ahmed bin Ali Stadium, Enrique and his Fifa-approved finest will take on the Flamengo who won the Copa Libertadores, the South American equivalent of the Champions League.
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"Flamengo are in a good moment, they have won a lot of trophies," said Enrique. "I like the way they play football. I remember their performances at the Club World Cup. They played some great matches. They're a top quality team with and without the ball."
Following the game in Doha, PSG will return to France to launch the defence of their Coupe de France crown against the amateur side Vendée Fontenay Foot who play in the fifth tier of French footballing hierarchy.
"We want to make history with PSG, that was our aim last season," Enrique added. "Keep making history is now the goal of this season. We'll have to be ready and switched on all game against Flamengo.
"Each action could be important and decisive. This season, I think the team has shown the same attitude as they already had last season."
Enrique's Flamengo counterpart Filipe Luis acknowledged his side would go into the encounter as underdogs. "PSG are the best team in the world," said the 40-year-old Brazilian.
"They proved that by winning the Champions League. They are taking part in this tournament because they are the best, and we, with all the humility in the world, are going to try to win and go down in history."
