Désiré Doué is the first player since Luis Suárez in 2015 to SCORE and ASSIST in a UEFA Super Cup final

Désiré Doué has added another impressive achievement to his rapidly growing career after becoming the first player since Luis Suárez in 2015 to both score and provide an assist in a UEFA Super Cup final. The Paris Saint-Germain youngster achieved the feat as PSG defeated Aston Villa 2-1 in Salzburg, providing the assist for Khvicha Kvaratskhelia’s opening goal before scoring what proved to be the winner himself in the second half.

But there is an incredible coincidence attached to the statistic: the last player to do it was Suárez for Barcelona 11 years earlier, and both performances came against teams managed by Unai Emery.

Doué Makes the Difference for PSG Against Aston Villa

PSG entered the UEFA Super Cup as Champions League holders and were expected to provide an enormous challenge for an Aston Villa side that had earned its place in the final through success in the Europa League. Emery’s team were not simply there to make up the numbers, however, and they made the European champions work extremely hard for another trophy.

Doué was involved in the breakthrough when PSG took the lead after 20 minutes. The French attacker found Kvaratskhelia, who converted to give his team the advantage and hand Doué the assist. Villa refused to allow PSG to take complete control and eventually found their response before the interval, with Brian Madjo scoring to send the teams into the latter stages with everything still to play for.

It was in the second half that Doué produced the decisive contribution. The PSG youngster found the net in the 61st minute to restore his team’s advantage, although there was initially uncertainty over whether the goal would count. An offside decision threatened to deny him before a VAR review determined that Matty Cash had kept him onside. The decision was overturned, the goal stood and PSG had their 2-1 lead.

Aston Villa continued searching for another equaliser and made the Champions League winners work for the trophy, but PSG protected their advantage through the closing stages. When the final whistle arrived, Doué’s goal had ultimately separated the teams, completing an evening in which he had directly contributed to both PSG goals.

First Player Since Luis Suárez to Score and Assist

Doué’s performance also placed him alongside one of the outstanding forwards of the previous generation. No player had managed to score and assist in the same UEFA Super Cup final since Suárez achieved it for Barcelona against Sevilla in 2015.

That final in Tbilisi was considerably more chaotic than PSG’s meeting with Aston Villa. Barcelona eventually defeated Sevilla 5-4 after extra time in one of the most entertaining UEFA Super Cup matches ever played, and Suárez was heavily involved in the Spanish giants’ attacking performance.

The Uruguayan contributed an assist before scoring himself as Barcelona attempted to take control of the contest. Sevilla repeatedly fought their way back into the game before Pedro eventually scored the decisive goal in extra time to secure the trophy for Barcelona.

Suárez therefore finished the evening having both scored and created a goal. In every UEFA Super Cup final that followed, no player managed to repeat the combination until Doué did it 11 years later.

Both Players Did It Against Unai Emery

The identity of the opposition manager makes the statistic even more unusual. Emery was standing in the Sevilla technical area when Suárez recorded his goal and assist for Barcelona in 2015. More than a decade later, the Spanish coach found himself in another UEFA Super Cup final, this time as Aston Villa manager, only for another player to accomplish exactly the same feat against his team.

There is obviously no tactical connection between the two performances. Different players, different clubs and more than a decade separate the matches, but Emery is the strange constant linking them together.

The Spaniard has built much of his managerial reputation through success in European competition. His extraordinary Europa League record has made him one of the most accomplished knockout managers of his generation, and his work at Aston Villa has once again demonstrated his ability to take teams deep into major competitions.

That makes the coincidence even more interesting. The only two players in more than a decade to combine a goal and an assist in a Super Cup final both happened to produce those performances while Emery was managing the opposition.

Doué Is Developing a Reputation for Delivering in Finals

The achievement becomes even more impressive when placed alongside what Doué has already accomplished in other major European matches. The PSG star has demonstrated an unusual ability to produce his best football when trophies are on the line, despite still being in the early stages of his career.

His performance in the 2025 Champions League final remains the clearest example. PSG demolished Inter Milan 5-0 to win the competition for the first time in the club’s history, and Doué was one of the biggest stars of an unforgettable night. He scored twice and provided an assist, becoming one of the youngest players ever to dominate a Champions League final in such fashion.

That performance immediately transformed perceptions of him. Doué was no longer simply an exciting young attacker with enormous potential; he had demonstrated that he could decide one of the biggest matches in world football.

The Super Cup has now provided another example. PSG did not dominate Aston Villa in the same way they overwhelmed Inter, which arguably made Doué’s contribution even more important. With the match closely contested, his creativity helped produce the first goal before his finishing delivered the second.

PSG Continue Their Successful European Era

Doué’s development has coincided with a remarkable period for PSG. For years, the club dominated French football while desperately attempting to translate its domestic success onto the European stage. Winning the Champions League changed that narrative and gave the club the trophy its owners, players and supporters had been chasing for so long.

The challenge after reaching that summit was maintaining those standards. European champions often discover that remaining at the top is considerably harder than reaching it, particularly when every opponent approaches matches against them with additional motivation.

PSG’s victory over Aston Villa therefore provided another indication that the squad remains hungry for trophies. Villa caused them problems and refused to allow the match to become comfortable, but PSG still found a way to win.

Players such as Doué are central to their ability to sustain that success. He provides goals, creativity, movement and unpredictability in attacking areas, while his age means there should still be significant room for improvement.

Aston Villa Can Still Take Positives From the Final

Although the trophy went to PSG, Aston Villa’s performance provided Emery with reasons for encouragement. Facing the Champions League winners in a European final represented a significant test, but Villa remained competitive throughout and were still searching for an equaliser during the closing stages.

Their ability to respond after conceding the opening goal demonstrated the resilience Emery has developed within the team. Villa could easily have allowed PSG to take complete control after falling behind, particularly against a side containing so much attacking quality, but they remained in the contest and forced their opponents to defend their advantage.

Ultimately, however, the difference came from PSG having a player capable of producing two decisive moments. Doué created one goal and scored another, and in a tight final that was enough to determine where the trophy went.

Another Major Milestone for Désiré Doué

Doué’s career is developing at extraordinary speed. Many young players spend years waiting for an opportunity to play in major European finals, while the Frenchman is already building a collection of memorable performances on those stages.

Scoring twice and assisting in a Champions League final would be enough to define an entire career for some footballers. Doué has now followed that by becoming the first player in 11 years to score and assist in a UEFA Super Cup final.

The comparison with Suárez does not mean Doué has already reached the level the former Barcelona and Liverpool striker maintained throughout his career. Suárez established himself as one of the finest centre-forwards of his generation and produced extraordinary numbers across several leagues.

But joining him in the record books at such a young age is another indication of the direction Doué’s career is heading.

Eleven years ago, Suárez scored and assisted as Barcelona overcame Emery’s Sevilla. Now Doué has repeated the achievement against Emery’s Aston Villa.

Different era, different player and different opposition, but somehow, the same manager was standing on the losing side once again.