Palma complete unique hat-trick in Le Mans

Illes Balears Palma had already proved themselves UEFA Futsal Champions League specialists by winning on their first two entries in 2022/23 and 2023/24 before having even claimed a domestic Spanish trophy – and in 2024/25 that streak continued as they became the first club to claim victory for a third year in a row under any competition format or title.

The old UEFA Futsal Cup had only been won even twice in succession by two clubs, Playas de Castellón in 2001/02 and 2002/03 and Inter FS in 2016/17 and 2017/18. The following season the competition became the Champions League and no side had retained that title until Palma in 2023/24.

Palma came through qualifying with relative comfort, taking their unbeaten run in the competition to 22 matches, once more than the previous record. Also getting through to the finals were Palma's domestic rivals and debutants Cartagena Costa Cálida, Kairat Almaty and Sporting CP, into an unmatched 12th final tournament.

France was to stage its first UEFA futsal final tournament as Antarès in Le Mans was picked as venue, and the opening semi-final matched those newcomers Cartagena with the competition's most experienced club, Kairat Almaty, in their 21st campaign. Kairat's team was much-changed from their last finals appearance in 2021 but they showed all the old guile to edge out Cartagena 3-2 with two goals from Alisson and one by Dennis Cavalcanti.

Palma, rematched with 2023 final victims Sporting, got the better of the Portuguese side again as second-half goals from Jesús Gordillo, Mario Rivillos and keeper Luan Muller sealed a 3-0 success. That meant for the second year running Sporting, for whom João Matos was playing in an 11th finals and Nuno Dias coaching in his ninth, had to settle for fourth place after losing to Cartagena 3-1 on penalties following a 2-2 draw in which the Spanish side equalised twice.

Kairat, in their fourth final, were hoping to become the first non-Spanish club to win a third title. Instead it was Palma who got to three as they surged to a 9-4 victory in the highest-scoring one-off final. Gordillo's early goal was cancelled out by Caio Ruiz but Lucas Machado and Gordillo again made it 3-1 at the break.

Any Kairat hopes were dashed as Fabinho (who missed the 2024 final injured) became the first player to get four goals in a final during an eight-minute burst. Neguinho, named Player of the Tournament, added another, before Dauren Tursagulov and Zhakhangir Rashit reduced Kairat arrears. Mateus Maia made it 9-3 and Kevin Arrieta got a late consolation.

Palma coach Antonio Vadillo therefore equalled Jesús Velasco's record of winning the competition three times as a coach, and became the first coach to triumph three times with the same club, as well as three times in a row. Goalkeepers Luan Muller and Carlos Barrón and Rivillos were all also part of all three Palma wins. Rivillos, also a champion with Inter in 2016/17, joined Gabriel, Sergio Lozano and Ortiz on a joint-record four final victories as a player.