GOAL runs through the most outstanding players to have plied their trade for Les Parisiens since the turn of the year 2000
One of European football's youngest powerhouses, the 21st century has been truly transformative for Paris Saint-Germain. The €70 million (£58m/$76m) takeover by Qatar Sports Investments (QSI) in 2011 propelled the club to become French football's dominant force, usurping rivals Lyon, and regular contenders in the Champions League.
Their success has come at a cost, with QSI spending unprecedented amounts on innumerable star names, including dropping what remains the largest transfer fee of all-time on Neymar in 2017. However, a Champions League crown still remains elusive to this day.
Throughout the QSI era, and even before, some outstanding players have passed through the doors of Parc des Princes in the pursuit of glory. Below, GOAL ranks the 25 best in what has been an extraordinary period in the club's short history…
Follow GOAL on WhatsApp! 🟢📱AFP25Salvatore Sirigu
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.
AdvertisementAFP24Nene
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.
Getty23Lionel 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.
AFP22Christophe 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.