Luis Enrique pays tribute to daughter after PSG's Champions League win: What happened to Xana Enrique?

Luis Enrique and Paris Saint-Germain celebrated their Champions League win on Saturday

Published on: Jun 1, 2025, 02:39:09 IST

By Yash Nitish Bajaj

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Luis Enrique and Paris Saint-Germain celebrated their Champions League win on Saturday. The French champs beat Inter Milan 5-0 in a lop-sided final at the Allianz Arena. As soon as the final whistle was blown, Enrique rushed to hug his players. Commentators said that the win was a tribute to the Spanish manager's daughter, Xana.

Luis Enrique paid tribute to his daughter, Xana, after PSG's Champions League win (AFP)

What happened to Luis Enrique's daughter?

Enrique suffered a personal tragedy in 2019 when his youngest daughter, Xana Martínez, passed away at the age of nine. Xana was diagnosed with osteosarcoma, a rare and aggressive form of bone cancer, in early 2019. Despite battling the disease for five intense months, she succumbed to it on August 29, 2019, leaving Enrique, his wife Elena Cullell, and their family devastated.

Xana was diagnosed with osteosarcoma, a malignant bone tumor, in 2019. Enrique stepped down from his role as head coach of the Spanish national team in June 2019 to focus on supporting his daughter during her treatment. Despite medical efforts, the cancer proved too aggressive.

Enrique shared the heartbreaking news of Xana’s death in August 2019, expressing gratitude for the support received and describing her as a “star” guiding their family. He wrote, “We will miss you lots, but we will remember you every day of our lives with the hope that in the future we will meet again.”

Xana, born in 2010, was Enrique’s youngest child with Elena Cullell. The couple also has two older children, Pacho and Sira. Enrique has spoken openly about the profound loss, emphasizing the joy Xana brought during her nine years.

In a 2024 Movistar+ documentary, You Have No F**ing Idea*, Enrique reflected on Xana’s life, stating, “My daughter came to live with us for nine wonderful years. We have thousands of memories… I consider myself fortunate, very fortunate.” He views her spiritual presence as a guiding force, particularly during significant moments like PSG’s 2025 Champions League final against Inter Milan.

Luis Enrique has expressed a desire to honor Xana if PSG wins the Champions League, recalling a 2015 memory when Xana, then five, planted a Barcelona flag on the pitch after his team’s victory. He hopes to plant a PSG flag in Munich’s Allianz Arena, noting, “My daughter won’t be there physically, but she’ll be there spiritually.”

ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Yash Nitish Bajaj
Yash Bajaj is a Chief Content Producer with a strong foundation in US coverage, digital strategy, and audience-focused storytelling. As part of the US Desk at Hindustan Times, he covers a wide range of topics - from American politics to sports (NFL, NBA, derbies, MLB and more). Before joining Hindustan Times, Yash served as Deputy News Editor at Times Now, where he oversaw international coverage and led a team of six. In this role, he significantly expanded global traffic through strategic planning, SEO-driven content execution, and meticulous trend tracking across platforms. He is experienced in managing high-pressure breaking-news shifts, coordinating live coverage, and building newsroom systems that improve speed, accuracy, and reach. Prior to Times Now, Yash held a position at Opoyi, where he headed the Sports and US news team. He developed broad editorial strategies, guided reporters across multiple beats, and played a key role in recruiting and training new talent. His responsibilities also extended to social media management and experimenting with innovative content formats. A passionate NFL fan, Yash is a die-hard supporter of the Cincinnati Bengals and has followed Joe Burrow closely since his college days at LSU. Whether breaking down top players' latest performance, analyzing team performances, or tracking roster moves, he brings the same dedication and sharp storytelling to his sports coverage as he does to American politics and breaking news. When he’s not writing, Yash can often be found watching games or debating the latest NFL storylines with fellow fans. Yash holds a Bachelor of Mass Media (Journalism) from HR College, Mumbai University. His interests extend well beyond the newsroom: he is an enthusiastic explorer of AI tools, a movie buff with an ever-growing watchlist, and someone who enjoys unraveling conspiracy theories for fun.Read More

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