Kvaratskhelia and Madjo shine as Doué secures Super Cup for PSG in Salzburg
Khvicha Kvaratskhelia and Brian Madjo produced eye-catching moments as Paris Saint-Germain defeated Aston Villa in the UEFA Super Cup in Salzburg on 12 August 2026, a match ultimately decided by PSG’s matchwinner Désiré Doué.
UEFA used the occasion to display its top-level fixtures while delegates gathered at events around Salzburg, including a pre-match lunch inside Hangar 7 next to Salzburg airport where Wagyu tenderloin and curd cheese dumplings were served. The fallout from Gianni Infantino’s collapsed FIFA Forward Enterprise scheme dominated discussion, with the prospect of a boycott of FIFA-run competitions — beginning in theory with the under-20 women’s World Cup next month — described as a live risk. The article reported that the chances of Infantino stepping aside voluntarily appear slim, that he will have to answer for himself at some point, and that UEFA has set a brisk pace in efforts to bring about his removal; as one diner bullishly opined later, "Infantino really is toast." UEFA’s temporary base in the neo-baroque Hotel Sacher was cited as the locus for broader conversations about the sport’s future.
Kvaratskhelia, who the piece noted "knows a thing or two about sitting Fifa tournaments out, albeit through sheer accident of birth," produced an assured display of dribbling and finishing when he found Marco Bizot’s top corner. The article described his contribution as a vivid reminder of why fans remain drawn to the game amid off-field turmoil.
Seventeen-year-old Brian Madjo was singled out for a "dazzling first impression," scoring Aston Villa’s equaliser despite having never played a competitive game for the club and applying sustained pressure on PSG’s defence throughout the match. The report characterised Madjo as a striker of "phenomenal strength and composure."
Désiré Doué was identified as the matchwinner, with the article noting he turned 21 in June and was "similarly unknown three years ago." Villa supporters reacted to a correct VAR decision that awarded Doué’s goal by lightly booing the officiating team when medals were collected, the piece said.
The report also highlighted the selection of Omar Artan as referee after UEFA awarded him the final in June; Artan, who had been denied entry to the United States before the World Cup, officiated the match and was described as working with "a sure touch and quiet authority." A supporter wearing a Somalia national team tracksuit top was observed queuing at the turnstile, the article added.
UEFA delegates were reported to have absorbed speeches at Hangar-7’s glass-panelled venue and to be planning further gatherings, with the Champions League draw due in a fortnight in Monaco. The piece noted that Infantino is due to stand for re-election in Rabat in seven months and that more intense debate over football’s governance is expected in the intervening period.
The immediate calendar ahead includes the potential under-20 women’s World Cup next month, cited as a possible starting point for any boycott of FIFA competitions, and the Champions League draw in Monaco in a fortnight, where UEFA and its allies are scheduled to reconvene.