Following Paris Saint-Germain`s historic victory in their first-ever UEFA Champions League final at Munich`s Allianz Arena on Saturday, manager Luis Enrique`s thoughts were with one special person: his late daughter, Xana.
Xana tragically passed away in 2019 at the age of nine after a battle with osteosarcoma, a rare bone cancer. However, Enrique and his family have actively preserved her memory throughout the years. Luis Enrique has often paid tribute to Xana during significant moments in his professional life, and the Champions League final was no different. Several gestures honoring his daughter were evident during PSG`s post-match celebrations.
Enrique, who wore a simple black t-shirt during the match, changed into a shirt featuring a drawing designed on behalf of the Xana Foundation before collecting his winner`s medal. Enrique and his wife Elena Cullell established the foundation after their daughter`s death. The t-shirt design referenced a photograph of Xana at the Champions League final a decade prior, when Enrique`s Barcelona side lifted the trophy at Berlin`s Olympiastadion.
“I have incredible memories because my daughter loved parties, and I`m sure she`s still throwing them wherever she is,” Enrique recalled earlier this season. “I remember an incredible photo I have with her at the Champions League final in Berlin, after winning the Champions League, planting an FC Barcelona flag on the pitch. I hope to be able to do the same with PSG. My daughter won`t be there, she won`t be there physically, but she will be there spiritually, and that`s very important to me. I`m motivated to continue moving forward with what life gives me, sharing it with my family.”
This was not the only tribute to Xana seen at the Allianz Arena on Saturday. Some time after the final whistle blew on PSG`s 5-0 win over Inter, the club`s supporters unfurled a banner that clearly nodded to that famous picture of Xana.
“It means a lot,” Enrique stated regarding the banner. “It`s so nice but I don`t need to win the Champions League to remember my daughter. My daughter is always with us, especially when we lost, and with my family, enjoying everything, trying to get the positives even in the bad moments.”
These mark the latest tributes to Xana, whom Enrique described as “the star that guides our family” after her passing. She has served as a powerful motivating factor in his career since, with Enrique consistently finding ways to weave Xana`s life into his professional milestones, regardless of the occasion.
This includes a touching moment in 2022, when Spain`s crucial World Cup group stage match against Germany coincided with Xana`s 13th birthday. He began that day with an Instagram post remembering his daughter, sharing, “Today is a special day. Not only because we play Germany, but also because my daughter Xana would be turning 13 years old. My love, wherever you are, we love you. We miss you.”
He also took time after Spain`s 1-1 draw with Germany to speak about Xana publicly.
“It was a special day for me and my family,” he said. “Obviously, we don`t have our daughter with us physically anymore, but she is still present every day. We remember her a lot, we laugh and think about how she would act in each situation that we experience. This is how life works. It`s not only about beautiful things and finding happiness, it`s about knowing how to manage these moments.”
This enduring remembrance stems from his family`s commitment to keeping her memory alive in profound ways. This involves ensuring memories of her are central to their daily lives, something he detailed in the 2024 documentary `Luis Enrique: You Have No F—ing Idea` as he recounted an interaction with his mother shortly after Xana`s death.
“My mother couldn`t keep photos of Xana until I arrived home and asked her, `Why aren`t there any photos of Xana, mom?`” he said. “`I can`t, I can`t.` `Mom, you have to put up photos of Xana. Xana is alive.` She isn`t in the physical sense but she is in the spiritual sense because every day, we talk about her, we laugh and remember because I think Xana still sees us.”
The family also honors their daughter through the Xana Foundation, which provides assistance to families of children affected by serious illness. Enrique recognized that he and his wife, Elena Cullell, had the rare privilege of taking leave from their work to focus entirely on Xana`s care; he stepped away from his role with the Spain national team in March 2019 before formally resigning that June, just two months before Xana`s passing. Enrique and his wife understood that not every family can easily make such sacrifices, so the foundation strives to provide support to those in need.
The family cherishes their memories of Xana, ones he considers himself exceptionally fortunate to possess.
“Can I consider myself fortunate or unfortunate? I consider myself fortunate, very fortunate,” he reflected in the documentary. “My daughter came to live with us for nine wonderful years. We have thousands of memories of her, videos, incredible things.”
