Introduction In the 2026 UEFA Champions League Final between Paris Saint-Germain (PSG) and Arsenal, a historic battle pushed the game into extra time and penalties. PSG ultimately clinched the title, securing their dominance in Europe with back-to-back championships. I recorded every ball-in-play event—a total of 1,687 actions—during the 90 minutes of regulation (103 minutes including stoppage time) using the app myRoupeiro. This article delves deeper into insights beyond what the app’s standard visualization can show. What emerged from this deep dive was not reflected in the flashy stats found on typical websites, but rather the sheer “will” of one young fighter: João Neves. Let’s peel back the layers behind his “28-second” performance. Note: This is an independent analysis and has no affiliation with any official data. It has not undergone formal quality control, and some insights are based on my own subjective interpretation. Please treat this data as a reference only. Additionally, please be aware that some parts of this article were generated with the assistance of AI.” The Protagonist of Just “28 Seconds” in a 103-Minute Battle The fierce battle, which lasted 103 minutes including stoppage time, was a test of endurance. Amidst this, João Neves held the ball […]
Introduction In a 90-minute football match, it is often said that the amount of time a single player spends in actual possession of the ball is surprisingly short. Johan Cruyff once remarked: “Players are in possession of the ball for an average of only three minutes. Therefore, what they do during the other 87 minutes is what matters most.” This highlights the critical importance of “off-the-ball” movement. The character Ego Jinpachi from the manga Blue Lock goes even further, providing a specific average value of “approximately 136 seconds (2 minutes and 16 seconds).” Recently, I decided to record every single play involving the ball during the first and second halves of the 2026 UCL Final (PSG vs. Arsenal), a stage where the world’s best compete. Since I had all this data, I took the logs of all 1,687 events and calculated the ball possession time for every player in seconds. And because I went to the trouble of doing that, I decided to do it for every individual player, not just the averages. Please note: I haven’t performed any strict quality control (QC), and there are some plays based on the data collector’s (my) subjective interpretation, so please take the […]
Introduction The 2026 UEFA Champions League (UCL) final between PSG and Arsenal was more than just a game; it was a tactical drama condensed into a single match. In this analysis, I have taken a light-hearted look at the match using data from all 1,687 events recorded(*). We will focus on Kai Havertz’s opening goal, powered by individual brilliance, and the astounding stats posted by the “Heart of PSG,” Vitinha. *Data was recorded and aggregated using the soccer match recording app “myRoupeiro,” tracking ball-involved plays in both halves. Non-official data. Excludes extra time. Includes some estimations for plays that could not be confirmed via video. 1. The Shocking 4 Seconds: Kai Havertz’s Individual Destruction The opening goal in the 5th minute shook the stadium, and the data shows it was the result of Havertz’s intense focus. Flowing the ball into the top corner of the near post with his left foot while under pressure from a defender, this play became a goosebump-inducing moment symbolizing Arsenal’s sharp transition from defense to attack. 2. Ultimate Symmetry: The “Perfect Circle” Drawn by Vitinha PSG’s aesthetic of possession revolved around one man: Vitinha. Phenomenal Stats He recorded the most passes of any player on […]
