Paris Saint-Germain, or PSG, is one of the most successful and popular clubs in French football history. Founded in 1970, the club has won 46 major trophies, including 11 Ligue 1 titles, 14 French Cups, 9 French League Cups, 11 Champions Trophies, and 1 UEFA Cup Winners’ Cup.
PSG has also produced some of the greatest players in the world, who have dazzled fans with their skills, goals, and achievements. In this article, we will rank the top 10 best PSG players of all time, based on their impact, legacy, and performance for the club. This is not an easy task, as there are many worthy candidates to choose from, but we will try to be as objective and fair as possible.
Top 10 Best PSG Players of All Time
Here are our picks for the top 10 best PSG players of all time:
10. Ronaldinho (2001-2003)
Ronaldinho may have spent only two seasons at PSG, but he left a lasting impression with his magical dribbling, passing, and scoring abilities. The Brazilian star joined PSG from Gremio in 2001 and quickly became a fan favorite with his flair and creativity. He scored 25 goals in 86 appearances for PSG, including some memorable ones against Marseille and Guingamp
Ronaldinho also helped PSG reach the UEFA Cup semi-finals in 2003, where they lost to eventual winners Porto. He left PSG for Barcelona in 2003, where he became one of the best players in the world and won the Ballon d’Or in 2005.
9. Carlos Bianchi (1977-1979)
Carlos Bianchi was a prolific goalscorer who terrorized defenses in France and Europe. The Argentine striker joined PSG from Reims in 1977, and had an incredible first season, scoring 37 goals in 38 matches. He won the European Golden Shoe as the top scorer in Europe that year, and also led PSG to their first ever European final, the UEFA Cup Winners’ Cup, where they lost to Barcelona.
In his second season, Bianchi scored 28 goals and won the French top scorer award again. He also helped PSG finish third in Ligue 1 and reach the French Cup final. He left PSG for Strasbourg in 1979, after scoring 71 goals in 80 games for the club. He is still PSG’s fifth-highest scorer of all time.
8. Dominique Rocheteau (1980-1987)
Dominique Rocheteau was a speedy and skillful winger who was nicknamed “The Angel of Paris” by the fans. He joined PSG from Saint-Etienne in 1980, and became a key player for the club for seven years. He scored 100 goals in 255 games for PSG, making him the fourth-highest scorer in the club’s history. He also won three trophies with PSG: two French Cups in 1982 and 1983, and one Ligue 1 title in 1986.
Rocheteau was also a regular for the French national team, earning 49 caps and scoring 15 goals. He played in three World Cups, reaching the semi-finals in 1982 and 1986. He retired from football in 1987, after a testimonial match against Santos at Parc des Princes.
7. Ángel Di María (2015-2022)
Ángel Di María is one of the most creative and versatile players in modern football. The Argentine winger joined PSG from Manchester United in 2015, and became an integral part of the team’s success. He scored 92 goals and delivered 112 assists in 295 games for PSG, making him the club’s all-time assist leader and sixth-highest scorer. He also won 16 trophies with PSG: six Ligue 1 titles, four French Cups, four French League Cups, and two Champions Trophies.
Di María also shone on the European stage, helping PSG reach their first-ever UEFA Champions League final in 2020, where they lost to Bayern Munich. He also played a vital role in PSG’s historic comeback against Barcelona in the round of 16 of the same competition in 2017, scoring two goals in a stunning 4-0 win at Parc des Princes.
Di María left PSG for Inter Miami in January 2022, after seven successful seasons at the club. He is widely regarded as one of the best players to ever wear the PSG shirt.
6. Safet Sušić (1982-1991)
Safet Sušić was a brilliant playmaker who was the mastermind of PSG’s attack for nine years. The Yugoslav midfielder joined PSG from Sarajevo in 1982, and became one of the most influential players in the club’s history. He scored 85 goals and delivered 103 assists in 344 games for PSG, making him the club’s second-highest assist provider and seventh-highest scorer. He also won two trophies with PSG: one Ligue 1 title in 1986 and one French Cup in 1983. [11][11]
Sušić was also a star for the Yugoslav national team, earning 54 caps and scoring 21 goals. He played in two World Cups, reaching the quarter-finals in 1990. He is considered one of the best Yugoslav players of all time, and one of the best foreign players in French football history. He was named in the FIFA 100 list of the greatest living players by Pelé in 2004.
5. Thiago Silva (2012-2020)
Thiago Silva was a commanding and elegant defender who was the leader of PSG’s defense for eight years. The Brazilian centre-back joined PSG from Milan in 2012, and became the club’s captain and most capped foreign player. He made 315 appearances for PSG, scoring 17 goals and winning 23 trophies: seven Ligue 1 titles, five French Cups, six French League Cups, and five Champions Trophies. He also helped PSG reach their first ever UEFA Champions League final in 2020, where they lost to Bayern Munich.
Thiago Silva was also a key player for the Brazilian national team, earning 93 caps and scoring seven goals. He played in three World Cups, winning the bronze medal in 2012 and captaining the team to the semi-finals in 2014. He also won two Copa América titles, in 2007 and 2019. He is widely regarded as one of the best defenders of his generation, and one of the best players in PSG’s history. He left PSG for Chelsea in 2020, after his contract expired.
4. Zlatan Ibrahimović (2012-2016)
Zlatan Ibrahimović was a charismatic and prolific striker who was the face of PSG’s rise to prominence in Europe. The Swedish superstar joined PSG from Milan in 2012, and became the club’s all-time top scorer with 156 goals in 180 games. He also delivered 60 assists and won 12 trophies with PSG: four Ligue 1 titles, three French Cups, three French League Cups, and two Champions Trophies. He also won four consecutive Ligue 1 Player of the Year awards, and three consecutive Ligue 1 top scorer awards.
Ibrahimović also scored some spectacular goals for PSG, such as his bicycle kick against Bastia, his long-range volley against Anderlecht, his backheel flick against Bastia, and his solo run against Caen. He also scored four goals in one game against England in an international friendly in 2012, including a stunning overhead kick from 30 yards out.
Ibrahimović left PSG for Manchester United in 2016, after his contract expired. He is widely regarded as one of the best strikers of all time, and one of the most iconic players in PSG’s history. He is also known for his confident and outspoken personality, which has earned him many fans and critics alike.
3. Raí (1993-1998)
Raí was a classy and influential midfielder who was the captain and hero of PSG’s golden era in the mid-1990s. The Brazilian legend joined PSG from São Paulo in 1993, and became one of the most successful players in the club’s history. He scored 72 goals and delivered 51 assists in 215 games for PSG, making him the club’s eighth-highest scorer and fourth-highest assist provider. He also won eight trophies with PSG: one Ligue 1 title, two French Cups, two French League Cups, one Champions Trophy, one UEFA Cup Winners’ Cup, and one UEFA Super Cup.
Raí was also the leader of PSG’s memorable European campaigns, scoring crucial goals against Real Madrid, Juventus, Liverpool, Bayern Munich, Barcelona, and Rapid Wien. He lifted PSG’s first and only European trophy to date, the UEFA Cup Winners’ Cup, in 1996, after scoring a penalty in the final against Rapid Wien. He also captained PSG to their first-ever UEFA Super Cup title in 1996, after beating Juventus on away goals.
Raí was also a star for the Brazilian national team, earning 52 caps and scoring 16 goals. He played in two World Cups, winning the title in 1994 as Brazil’s Raí’s captain and vice-captain. He also won two Copa América titles, in 1989 and 1997. He is considered one of the best Brazilian players of all time, and one of the best foreign players in French football history. He left PSG for São Paulo in 1998, after a testimonial match against Bordeaux at Parc des Princes.
2. George Weah (1992-1995)
George Weah was a powerful and prolific striker who was the first and only African player to win the Ballon d’Or. The Liberian legend joined PSG from Monaco in 1992, and became one of the most feared forwards in Europe. He scored 55 goals in 138 games for PSG, making him the club’s ninth-highest scorer of all time. He also won three trophies with PSG: one Ligue 1 title, one French Cup, and one Champions Trophy.
Weah was also the star of PSG’s historic UEFA Champions League campaign in 1994-95, where they reached the semi-finals for the first time. He scored seven goals in nine games, including a hat-trick against Bayern Munich, a solo goal against Porto, and a winner against Barcelona. He also scored one of the most famous goals in football history, when he ran from his own penalty area to the other end of the pitch, beating several defenders and the goalkeeper, to score against Verona in a UEFA Cup game in 1994.
Weah left PSG for Milan in 1995, where he won the Ballon d’Or that year. He also played for Chelsea, Manchester City, and Marseille before retiring from football in 2003. He is widely regarded as one of the best African players of all time, and one of the most influential players in PSG’s history. He is also known for his humanitarian work and his political career, as he became the president of Liberia in 2018.
1. Pauleta (2003-2008)
Pauleta is the undisputed king of PSG’s goalscorers, as he holds the record for the most goals scored for the club with 109. The Portuguese striker joined PSG from Bordeaux in 2003, and became a legend for the club for five years. He scored 109 goals in 211 games for PSG, making him the club’s all-time top scorer by a wide margin. He also won two trophies with PSG: one French Cup and one Champions Trophy.
Pauleta was also a consistent performer for PSG, as he scored at least 20 goals in each of his five seasons at the club. He also scored some memorable goals for PSG, such as his bicycle kick against Marseille, his hat-trick against Lens, his volley against Nantes, and his chip against Auxerre. He also scored four goals in one game against Le Mans in 2006.
Pauleta was also a star for the Portuguese national team, earning 88 caps and scoring 47 goals. He played in three European Championships and two World Cups, reaching the final of Euro 2004 and the semi-finals of World Cup 2006. He is Portugal’s second-highest scorer of all time, behind Cristiano Ronaldo. He retired from football in 2008, after a testimonial match against Benfica at Parc des Princes.
Conclusion
These are our picks for the top 10 best PSG players of all time. Of course, there are many other great players who have played for PSG, such as David Ginola, Marco Verratti, Edinson Cavani, Neymar Jr., Kylian Mbappé, and many more. However, we believe that these 10 players have left an indelible mark on PSG’s history, and deserve to be recognized as the best of the best.
We hope you enjoyed this article, and learned something new about PSG’s history and legends. If you have any comments or suggestions, feel free to share them with us. Thank you for reading!
Most Asked Questions and Answers
Q: When was PSG founded?
A: PSG was founded on August 12th, 1970 by merging Paris FC and Stade Saint-Germain.
Q: How many times has PSG won Ligue 1?
A: PSG has won Ligue 1 11 times: in 1986, 1994, 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2018, 2019, 2020*, 2021*, and 2022*. (* denotes seasons affected by COVID-19 pandemic)
Q: How many times has PSG won UEFA Champions League?
A: PSG has never won UEFA Champions League. Their best result was reaching the final in 2020, where they lost to Bayern Munich.
Q: Who is PSG’s current manager?
A: PSG’s current manager is Mauricio Pochettino, who replaced Thomas Tuchel in January 2021.
Q: Who is PSG’s current captain?
A: PSG’s current captain is Marquinhos, who replaced Thiago Silva in 2020.
Q: Who is PSG’s current top scorer?
A: PSG’s current top scorer is Kylian Mbappé, who has scored 153 goals in 212 games for the club as of April 2023.
Q: Who is PSG’s most expensive signing?
A: PSG’s most expensive signing is Neymar Jr., who joined the club from Barcelona for a world-record fee of €222 million in 2017.
Q: Who is PSG’s most capped player?
A: PSG’s most capped player is Thiago Silva, who made 315 appearances for the club from 2012 to 2020.
Q: Who is PSG’s longest-serving player?
A: PSG’s longest-serving player is Marco Verratti, who joined the club from Pescara in 2012 and has been playing for the club for 11 seasons as of 2023.
Q: Who is PSG’s biggest rival?
A: PSG’s biggest rival is Marseille, who are the only other French club to have won UEFA Champions League. The matches between PSG and Marseille are known as Le Classique, and are often heated and intense.