Sport
An XI of the best PSG players of all time
No team French football captures the headlines like Paris Saint-Germain. By far the biggest team in the France, PSG have stood out amongst their peers as an icon of football across the country. This iconic status has led to some eras of dominance for the club, whether it was the home-grown stars shining in the 1970s or the squad of superstars that dominated throughout the 2010s. It has made PSG one of the most successful teams in French football history. But who are the best PSG players of all time? Here’s our XI.
The best PSG players of all time
GK: Bernard Lama
Some goalkeepers are known for their skills and some for their personality but Bernard Lama had them both. His colourful personality was backed up with excellent reactions that made him undisputed number one for the club for most of the 1990’s. It was during this time that Lama helped PSG to 3x Coupe De France titles in his 8-year spell at the club and made a fan favourite at the Parc Des Princes.
Injuries and internal politics meant that Lama was phased out of the squad in 2000 when he departed for Rennes but it didn’t prevent Lama from being an all-time great at the club.
RB: Marquinhos
One of the most versatile defenders of his generation, Marquinhos has developed to be one of the greats of the last 10 years. The Brazilian can be deployed almost anywhere on the pitch whether it be as a defender, full-back or midfielder.
Marquinhos’ excellent passing and ball control allows him to be the basis for many attacks but also has the stamina to always give it all from the first to final whistle. Having won 6x Ligue 1 titles with PSG as well as 3 nominations in the Ligue 1 Team of the Season, Marquinhos has proven himself to be one of the most reliable stars of PSG’s billionaire era and one of the best PSG players of all time.
CB: Jean-Marc Pilorget
Many people outside of France may not know the legacy of Jean-Marc Pilorget but he is a legend to most PSG fans. The defender spent 14 years at the club from 1975-1989 being an ever-present star of a squad that was always a title threat throughout his time there. Pilorget could always be counted on at the back with a physical and no-nonsense approach that stopped players dead in their tracks.
He won a Ligue 1 title with the club in 1986 as well as 2x Coupe de France title before leaving for Cannes in 1989. With 435 appearances for the club, he still remains their all-time record holder in appearances across all competitions.
CB: Thiago Silva
There are fewer defenders in the modern game better than Thiago Silva. The Brazilian led by example for PSG for almost a decade and was the most expensive defender in history when he joined the club from AC Milan in 2012. On his day, Silva could stop any striker with ease with excellent anticipation when tackling and being nigh on unbeatable in the air.
His composure and coolness made him the ideal captain for the team and led the team to a host of clean sweeps across French football throughout the 2010s. His consistency led him to be a part of the Ligue 1 Team of the Year in every season he participated in underlining his quality. He is also PSG’s longest serving captain in history having held the armband for 293 games.
LB: Sylvain Armand
If you ever wanted someone who was truly dedicated to their club, then look no further than Sylvain Armand. He was an almost ever-present starter for PSG throughout the 2000s with his pace and skill making him an ideal left-back to charge up and down the flank.
Armand was a star in a time when the team was truly in transition and was respected by everyone throughout the club. Affectionately dubbed “Mr PSG” by both fans and colleagues, Armand was given the captaincy in his final game – the game where the club lifted their first Ligue 1 trophy in 20 years when they triumphed in 2013. Despite never getting an international call-up for France, Armand proved that hard work will always be rewarded and he deserves to be listed among the best PSG players ever.
CM: Marco Verratti
If you are looking for a midfielder that can always be the team’s heartbeat, then Marco Verratti is the ideal choice. The Italian playmaker can star in both defensive and attacking scenarios where his direct play and passing ability can cut team to shreds in a heartbeat. Verratti’s all-round skillset has made him one of the icons of the club under Qatari ownership.
His consistency has helped him to be in 7 Ligue 1 Team of the Year nominations as well as the 2014/15 Foreign Player of the Year. With no less than 7 Ligue 1 titles to his name, Verratti is one of the most decorated players in modern Ligue 1 history.
CM:Safet Susic
During the late 1980s, there were very few better playmakers in Europe better than Safet Susic. The Bosnian playmaker was exceptionally gifted on the ball with impressive speed whilst dribbling and able to slice teams apart with ease. It was this ability that led him to notch up 103 assists during his time in the French capital alongside 85 goals making him an icon for the club.
His form helped in secure the Ligue 1 Foreign Player of the Year award in 1983 as well as the nomination for greatest Bosnian footballer for his country in 2003. Having been inducted into the PSG Hall of Fame in 2017, Susic will always remain a popular figure at the Parc Des Princes.
CM: Mustapha Dahleb
Perhaps one of the most underrated playmakers of his generation, Mustapha Dahleb was a menace whenever he was on the ball and was one of the best PSG players ever as a result.
Dahleb’s attacking nature was unheard of during his time with the club from 1974-1984 where he contributed regularly to both goals and assists. During his time with the club, he notched up 98 goals and 80 assists over 310 games ensuring that PSG were always in the hunt for trophies. It was a real indicator of the Algerian’s skillset even if it didn’t always get the recognition that his form deserved.
FW: Angel Di Maria
Whilst Angel Di Maria can sometimes frustrate fans, he can also provide them with real moments of brilliance. The tricky winger’s pace and bag of tricks can bamboozle the best of defenders no matter which side of the pitch he appears on.
His passing skills match that of many of the other top playmakers in world football and with 105 assists to his name, Di Maria holds the record for most assists in PSG history. This form has helped the Argentine star win 2x Ligue 1 Team of the Year nominations as well as multiple trophies with the club.
FW: Zlatan Ibrahimovic
No matter where Zlatan Ibrahimovic plays, goals are always guaranteed and his time in France was no exception. The Swedish superstar only spent 4 years in France but he left a record very few could match. His knack for the spectacular as well as scary consistency made him the deadliest forward in French football for 4 seasons where he scored at least 20 goals a season with a best return of 38 goals in 31 games during the 2015/16 season.
This form helped him to 156 goals in 180 games across all competitions – a club record at the time. It helped him win 3x Ligue 1 Player of the Year awards as well as 3 golden boots.
FW: Edinson Cavani
If you ever wanted a more consistent striker in modern football, look no further than Edinson Cavani, Cavani’s pace and deadly finishing ability has made him a nightmare for defenders across world football and his 7 years with PSG was no exception. Cavani could always be counted onto bag multiple goals in matches and almost always average 20 goals a season.
His best return came in the 2016/17 season where he scored 35 goals in 36 games and claimed the Ligue 1 Golden Boot award as well as Player of the Year. With such consistency, it was no surprise to see that Cavani had scored 200 goals in 301 appearances for PSG before he left for Manchester United in 2020 – an all-time club record. An amazing feat for the Uruguayan who remains a living legend in the French capital.
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