Kylian Mbappe, Zlatan Ibrahimovic & the 25 best PSG players of the 21st century so far – ranked

Once considered the heir apparent to Gianluigi Buffon, Italian goalkeeper Salvatore Sirigu may well feel hard done by in terms of how his PSG career played out after close to 200 appearances.

An early QSI signing, he broke the Ligue 1 clean-sheet record in his second season and was ever-reliable between the sticks, helping the club to multiple trophies, including a domestic treble in 2014-15. However, he was effectively made second-choice that summer as PSG signed Kevin Trapp.

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  24Nene

  PSG’s final star of their pre-takeover era, Brazilian journeyman Nene spent two-and-a-half seasons at Parc de Princes, with his flair and set-piece ability earning him plenty of plaudits.

  He was was Ligue 1’s top scorer in 2011-12 despite the Qatari purchase of the club and a raft of new arrivals, but he was forced down the pecking order the following season and departed for Al-Gharafa in January 2013.

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  23Lionel Messi

  It’s incredibly rare that you find Lionel Messi towards the bottom of any ‘ranking’ list, but his spell at PSG will not be particularly fondly remember by club or player. The Paris side capitalised on Barcelona’s financial debacle to sign the Argentine megastar in 2021, but their attempt to build one of the most fearsome attacks in the history of football by lining him up alongside Kylian Mbappe and Neymar would fall flat.

  Despite being unhappy off the pitch, Messi still dazzled on it; in 75 appearances, he made 67 goal contributions – with his second and final season particularly fruitful despite him being 35 years old, as he scored 21 times and laid on 20 assists on his way to winning the Ballon d’Or.

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  22Christophe Jallet

  A man who was initially an impact sub, the versatile Christophe Jallet became increasingly important for PSG following his arrival in 2009, going on to make close to 150 appearances amid the transition to Qatari ownership. The right-back-cum-midfielder was renowned for his consistency and was named club captain by Carlo Ancelotti in 2012.

  “Jallet is a player with great regularity. There is no tactical error, he is always focused, dynamic. I did not know Jallet but his performance has always been good. He is very professional,” the Italian tactician said at the time.

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  21Ezequiel Lavezzi

  Ezequiel Lavezzi was a statement signing for PSG in 2012 as they landed him from Napoli at the peak of his powers. Although he struggled to settle initially, spending a long spell out of the team, he would eventually become a reliable performer and help PSG to a first Ligue 1 title in 19 years.

  However, Lavezzi endured a less productive second season where he was often substituted and eventually fell down the pecking order before leaving in 2016, with the sense that he was more popular off the pitch then he was on it. Nevertheless, he will be fondly remembered by the fans.

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  20Gianluigi Donnarumma

  Gianluigi Donnarumma certainly has the potential to climb this list, with the 25-year-old still short of his peak. It was seen as a huge coup when PSG convinced the Italian to leave AC Milan in 2021, but the move was initially a slow burn as he battled to be No.1 with Keylor Navas.

  He has finally established himself as first choice, although he perhaps hasn’t hit the heights expected of him. Nevertheless, Donnarumma – an astute shot-stopper – has kept clean sheets in a quarter of the matches he has played for Les Parisiens. He looks set to be a reliable No.1 for years to come.

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  19Ronaldinho

  If you’ve ever wondered where Ronaldinho cut his teeth in European football, the answer is PSG. The club was the sensation’s first outside of Brazil as he signed from boyhood side Gremio in 2001 for what ended up being less than £3m.

  Although he made a slow start and clashed with then-manager Luis Fernandez over his lifestyle, Ronaldinho would eventually start demonstrating his world-class potential with his repertoire of outrageous flicks and tricks, as his showboating grabbed the attention of the football world. Although inconsistent, he was still impactful – making 42 goal contributions in 77 appearances before Barcelona came calling in 2003.

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  18Gabriel Heinze

  A man who would go on to become something of an unsung hero for both Manchester United and Real Madrid, it was at PSG that Gabriel Heinze made a name for himself in Europe – the club he made the most appearances for (132) throughout his career.

  The no-nonsense defender was a key man for Les Parisiens across three years in Paris and an ever-present at the back. He was a central figure in the 2004 Coupe de France triumph, although he would miss the final. His performances earned him a move to United that summer.

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  17Jay-Jay Okocha

  The man so good they named him twice. Ridiculously enough, PSG had Jay-Jay Okocha and Ronaldinho in the same team in 2001-02, although the former was just coming to the end of his time in the French capital before going on to become a certified ‘Barclaysman’ at Bolton. He reckons he deserves some credit for the Brazilian’s development: “Ronaldinho tried to imitate some of my skills and dribbles,” Okocha told On Time Sports.

  Okocha was PSG’s original noughties entertainer, endearing himself to the Parc des Princes faithful with his outrageous catalogue of skills and dazzling dribbling ability. But despite arriving from Fenerbahce for a hefty transfer fee, he would leave in 2002 after four years and 113 appearances with just an Intertoto Cup in his trophy cabinet.

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  16Javier Pastore

  One of the first signings of the QSI era in Paris, Javier Pastore would become a fan favourite despite his problems with injury. The tricky attacking midfielder scored 16 goals in his first season at PSG to endear himself to the fans – numbers he wouldn’t be able to replicate, although he did contribute 17 assists in 2014-15.

  Incessant niggling injuries and PSG’s big spending on players in similar positions ultimately took their toll, but the Argentine will always be remembered fondly by the fanbase for his effortless class and guile.

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  15Presnel Kimpembe

  Amid all the big-name arrivals following the Qatari-backed takeover of PSG, the ideal situation was surely to have the cream of the academy crop playing alongside the stellar signings. Many, many graduates have been sold off down the years, but ball-playing, tough-tackling defender Presnel Kimpembe has held his own.

  Now 29, the centre-back has racked up more than 250 appearances for his boyhood club, despite struggling with injuries, and has acted as a beacon of hope for others coming through Les Parisiens youth setup, with many more now part of the first-team picture as the club heads in a new direction.

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  14Achraf Hakimi

  Snapped up from the Scudetto-winning Inter side of 2021, Achraf Hakimi has enhanced his reputation as one of the best attacking full-backs in the business in Paris.

  A near ever-present, he immediately established himself as a key player and he has made 37 goal contributions in his 128 appearances to date despite nominally being a defender. He’s plied his trade at Borussia Dortmund, Real Madrid and Inter, but he seems most at home at PSG.

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  13Maxwell

  The official Ligue 1 website sums it up quite nicely when describing Maxwell: a quiet legend. The left-back retired at PSG after five seasons of loyal service to the club, helping them to the Ligue 1 title in each of those campaigns (as well as a host of cup triumphs) except the last, and remarkably becoming the most decorated club footballer of all time.

  A reliable figure in defence, he made more than 200 appearances and became a club legend for his likeability, contributing a handy 25 assists and 13 goals in that time. The Brazilian was held in such high regard that he would return to the club, currently serving as assistant sporting director.

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  12Keylor Navas

  PSG’s treatment of Keylor Navas will always be something of a mystery, but for a time he was one of the best goalkeepers on the planet while plying his trade at Parc des Princes. Signed from Real Madrid in 2021, Navas was the prototype of the modern goalkeeper with his agility and shot-stopping combined with ball-playing ability.

  However, PSG’s decision to go after AC Milan sensation Donnarumma in 2021 meant the two ‘keepers had to role share before the Costa Rican was eventually forced out of the picture. Navas was given a hero’s goodbye as he departed as a free agent in 2024.

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  11Thiago Motta

  One of the most underrated defensive midfielders of his generation, Thiago Motta was a stalwart of the post-takeover PSG sides – winning five league titles and countless cup competitions in six-and-a-half years in the French capital. Having signed for just €10m from Inter, he was an absolute bargain.

  The Italian oozed class despite being a midfield destroyer, hanging up his boots at Parc des Princes in 2018 after making more than 230 appearances for Les Parisiens – significantly more games than he played anywhere else in a glittering career.

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  10Blaise Matuidi

  Arriving among the first wave of QSI signings in 2011 for just €8m, Blaise Matuidi would prove to be a roaring success in Paris as he became a key part of the midfield alongside Motta. An all-action player with endless energy, Matuidi had a nifty habit of coming up clutch for PSG – bagging big goals against the likes of Lyon, Marseille and Barcelona (twice) down the years.

  The Frenchman quickly became a fan favourite and he repaid that support with close to 300 tireless displays, 33 goals and 29 assists. He would win 16 honours in his time with the club before joining Juventus in 2017.