It sounds like the beginning of a joke, but it’s reality: in the 2024/25 UEFA Champions League final, Inter and Paris Saint-Germain will face each other. These teams feature players from four different countries — Armenia, Russia, Turkey, and Georgia. Henrikh Mkhitaryan, Matvei Safonov, Hakan Çalhanoğlu, and Khvicha Kvaratskhelia will make this final truly international. And if we add Iranian Mehdi Taremi, we can jokingly say — it’s almost a “South Caucasus national team” (though missing a representative from Azerbaijan).
For players from these countries, reaching the Champions League final is a rare and significant event that draws major attention.
After the UEFA Champions League 2024/25 semifinals, it became clear: Inter and PSG will meet in the decisive clash on May 31 at the Allianz Arena in Munich.
Appearances of players from these countries in UCL finals before 2024/25:
Armenia
The upcoming final will be only the second in history for Armenia. In both cases, the country was represented by Henrikh Mkhitaryan — both times with Inter.
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2022/23: Manchester City vs. Inter (1:0). Mkhitaryan recovered from injury and came on in the 84th minute.
Turkey
Turkish players have reached UCL finals fairly often, but there has been only one win so far.
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2023/24: Borussia Dortmund vs. Real Madrid (0:2). Arda Güler and Salih Özcan were on the roster but did not play.
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2022/23: Manchester City vs. Inter (1:0). Çalhanoğlu started for Inter and was subbed off in the 84th minute.
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2012/13: Dortmund vs. Bayern (1:2). Nuri Şahin came on in the 90th minute.
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2010/11: Bayern vs. Inter (0:2). Hamit Altıntop played 63 minutes for Bayern.
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2001/02: Bayer vs. Real (1:2). Yıldıray Baştürk played the full match.
Georgia
Khvicha Kvaratskhelia will be only the second Georgian to appear in a UCL final after Kakha Kaladze.
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2006/07: Milan vs. Liverpool (2:1). Kaladze came on in the 80th minute.
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2004/05: Milan vs. Liverpool (3:3, pens 2:3). He remained on the bench.
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2002/03: Milan vs. Juventus (0:0, pens 3:2). Played the full match.
Russia
Matvei Safonov will be only the second Russian in a Champions League final after Dmitry Alenichev. However, unlike the 2004 UCL winner, Safonov will likely play only in an emergency.
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2003/04: Monaco vs. Porto (0:3). Dmitry Alenichev came on in the 60th minute and helped Porto lift the trophy.
Iran
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1998/99: Manchester United vs. Bayern (2:1). Ali Daei was in Bayern’s squad but did not play. Mehdi Taremi could become the first Iranian to play in a Champions League final.