Henrikh Mkhitaryan can etch his name in the history books of European football after Saturday’s Champions League final.
Inter Milan face PSG in the showpiece event at the Allianz Arena, the latter of whom seek to life the title for the first time ever. Meanwhile, Inter bid to win their fourth in club history.
Mkhitaryan has been instrumental in leading the Italian giants to the final, having created the third-most chances of any Inter player throughout the tournament.
Not to mention, the 36-year-old has started seven of his side’s last eight Champions League games, and has been operated reliably in the five-man midfield of Simone Inzaghi’s 3-5-2 setup.
Wind back the clock some six years ago and it was all doom and gloom for Mkhitaryan; he watched from home as his former club Arsenal suffered a 4-1 humiliation against Chelsea in the 2019 Europa League final.
But the Armenian maestro has enjoyed his football this decade and has breathed new life into his career in Italy.
Henrikh Mkhitaryan can become the first player to win the Champions League, Europa League and Europe Conference League tonight
The midfielder won the Europa League in 2017 under Jose Mourinho at Manchester United
Again playing for Mourinho, Mkhitaryan won the Europa Conference League with Roma in 2022
Tonight in Munich, he has the chance to complete the trifecta of European titles.
Having won both the Europa League and the Europa Conference League under Jose Mourinho – in 2017 with Manchester United and 2022 with Roma – Mkhitaryan is yet to lift just one of the three continental trophies.
And ahead of tonight’s final, the midfielder stressed the importance of experience – but not just his own.
Former Man United stars Matteo Darmian and Romelu Lukaku are also veterans of the game, and have the chance to stamp their experience down against a young PSG side.
Mkhitaryan said ahead of the affair: ‘I hope experience will count in the final. It’s not just me, I have a lot of experienced team-mates.’
Inter booked their spot in the final for the second time in three years after a sensational 7-6 win against Barcelona in the semi-finals.
Meanwhile, PSG dispatched of Arsenal in the final four to earn their first trip to the Champions League final since their heartbreak against Bayern Munich in 2020.
Having bounced around Armenia and Ukraine early in his career, Mkhitaryan earned his first move to the big leagues when he joined Borussia Dortmund in 2013.
Inter have the chance to win their fourth Champions League title in club history tonight
PSG are in search of their first ever, having suffered defeat in their last trip to the final in 2020
Inter made the final after a thrilling 7-6 win on aggregate against Barcelona in the semi-finals
PSG beat Arsenal comfortably in both legs of their final-four tie to book a spot in the final
In his swan song season with the club in 2015-16, Mkhitaryan was voted the Bundesliga Players’ Player of the Season, finishing as the league’s assist leader (15).
He made his switch to Old Trafford in 2016 but was unable to carry over his world-beating performances from the Bundesliga.
In January 2018, Mkhitaryan was essentially used as a makeweight in United’s deal to sign Alexis Sanchez from Arsenal.
Mkhitaryan went to the Emirates and his struggles in England continued.
But his moved to Roma handed him a second wind in his career, and it has only been up since then for the 10-time Armenian Footballer of the Year.
