Who is Matvey Safonov? The PSG goalkeeper who powered their first FIFA Intercontinental Cup triumph

Paris Saint-Germain goalkeeper Matvey Safonov was the unlikely hero as PSG defeated Flamengo in the FIFA Intercontinental Cup final to complete a historic sextuple. But the victory was far from straightforward.

The Libertadores and Brasileirão champions pushed the UEFA Champions League winners to their limits, with neither side able to find a decisive goal. After a tense stalemate, the final was decided by a penalty shootout — and that’s where Safonov stole the spotlight.

Despite being PSG’s second-choice goalkeeper, Safonov delivered a remarkable performance under immense pressure. He saved four of Flamengo’s five penalties, securing the trophy for PSG, even as his own teammates Ousmane Dembélé and Bradley Barcola missed their spot-kicks.

Luis Enrique’s decision to start Safonov raised eyebrows among fans. PSG’s first-choice goalkeeper, Lucas Chevalier — who had taken over after Gianluigi Donnarumma’s move to Manchester City — has struggled with injuries since arriving in Paris. Safonov had stepped in earlier in the season, making three appearances and keeping two clean sheets in domestic competitions, but few expected him to start such a high-stakes final.

Yet Enrique put his trust in the Russian goalkeeper, and Safonov repaid it in spectacular fashion. Although he was unable to stop Jorginho’s penalty, he responded by denying four others, sealing PSG’s place in history.

With the shootout victory over Flamengo, PSG became only the third club ever to win a sextuple — and Matvey Safonov’s heroics will be remembered as the defining moment of the night.

Luis Enrique has made it clear that no player at PSG—not even the goalkeeper—is guaranteed a place in the starting XI. Every spot must be earned through performance. Safonov’s fourth appearance this season was nothing short of heroic, raising an important question: could he eventually establish himself as PSG’s first-choice goalkeeper?

Who is PSG backup goalkeeper Matvey Safonov?

It has been just a year since Matvey Safonov made the move to France from Russian side Krasnodar in the summer of 2024. A product of Krasnodar’s youth academy, Safonov spent the bulk of his career with the club, rising through the ranks to become their first-choice goalkeeper.

The 26-year-old signed in June 2024 after seven seasons with Krasnodar, where he played regularly between 2017 and 2024. During the 2024–25 campaign, Safonov made 17 appearances across all competitions, 10 of them in Ligue 1. His season included notable outings in the Champions League against Bayern Munich and the Coupe de France final versus Reims, where he produced a clean sheet.

Cover Credits - Sky Sports