5 most influential PSG signings of the 21st century

When Qatar Sports Investments (QSI) took over PSG at the turn of the last decade, many expected the Parisians to become a formidable team.

After three decades of domestic and continent struggles, PSG have become a force to be reckoned with. QSI brought in the funds to land world-class players at the Parc des Princes.

The last ten years have seen PSG win the Ligue 1 title seven times. They have won over twenty domestic titles during this period. Currently, the only trophy that has eluded Le Parisiens is the UEFA Champions League.

The last time PSG won a continental trophy was in 2001, when they won the now-defunct UEFA Intertoto Cup. Their recent influx of star players has been to help them win a continental trophy. Last year, they reached their first Champions League final, where they fell to Bayern Munich.

While some of PSG's signings have directly helped improve results on the field, others were impactful in other ways. They have helped the club ascend new heights, which has also raised the overall stature of the French league.

So without further ado, here's a look at the five most influential PSG signings of the 21st century:

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#5 Ronaldinho | Barcelona legend

Paris Saint-Germain vs RB Leipzig: Group A - UEFA Champions League

It might be surprising to note that some world-class players turned up for PSG even before QSI took ownership of the club. Bolton Wanderers legend Jay-Jay Okocha famously played for PSG before the Qatari era, but the most famous PSG signing in that period was Ronaldinho.

The Barcelona legend joined PSG in 2001 for €5 million from Gremio, and within two seasons, his career skyrocketed. The vibrance, skilful dribbling and flair for brilliant goals put Ronaldinho in the crosshairs of the bigger European giants.

He played just 77 games for PSG before Barcelona snapped him up for €32 million in 2003. That was a massive financial influx for PSG at the time.

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#4 Zlatan Ibrahimovic | AC Milan

Manchester City FC vs Paris Saint-Germain - UEFA Champions League Quarter-Final: Second Leg

After QSI took ownership of PSG, Zlatan Ibrahimovic was one of their first targets. They splurged €20 million to bring in one of the best players in the world at the time to the Parc des Princes in 2012.

It didn't take long for Ibrahimovic to provide PSG the key attacking impetus the club desperately needed on the field.

To say that Ibrahimovic's arrival at the club was influential would be an understatement. The Swede led PSG to twelve trophies, including four back-to-back Ligue 1 titles. He notably scored an astonishing 156 goals in just 180 games.

It is no surprise that he was the league's top goalscorer in three of the four seasons he played at the club.

#3 Kylian Mbappe | PSG

RB Leipzig vs Paris Saint-Germain: Group A - UEFA Champions League

When PSG splashed an absurd €145 million on Kylian Mbappe in 2018, it shocked many. He joined the side initially on loan from AS Monaco as Mbappe became the most expensive teenager in the game's history. However, Mbappe has shown his worth time and time again.

At PSG, the star has matured from a young wunderkind to a superstar, playing as the key striker alongside Lionel Messi and Neymar. In his four seasons at the Parc des Princes, the star has guided PSG to ten trophies, including three Ligue 1 titles. It's no surprise Mbappe has picked up the top goalscorer award thrice, with the star providing a brilliant output of 139 goals in 187 appearances.

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#2 Neymar | PSG

RB Leipzig vs Paris Saint-Germain: Group A - UEFA Champions League

PSG splurged €222 million to bring Neymar to the Parc des Princes, making the Brazilian the most expensive player of all time. PSG were criticised for spending such an amount on one player.

Neymar has struggled with injury issues in Paris, but the domino effect of his transfer has been felt throughout European football. Barcelona spent more than half the money received from Neymar's transfer to buy Philippe Coutinho from Liverpool.

The Reds, in turn, spent the €120 million they received from Barcelona to land Virgil van Dijk and Allison Becker. Both of them have been key in Liverpool's resurgence in England and Europe.

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#1 Lionel Messi | PSG

Paris Saint-Germain vs Manchester City: Group A - UEFA Champions League

PSG have spent exorbitant amounts to bring in world-class stars in the past. But the recent summer transfer window proved to be the most productive for the club since 2011.

The Parisians picked up Giorgionio Wijnaldum and Sergio Ramos on free transfers from Liverpool and Real Madrid, respectively. However, the free transfer that broke the internet was Lionel Messi, who arrived from Barcelona.

There is little doubt that the Argentine magician is the one of the greatest players in the history of football. When PSG announced his arrival, their social media numbers exploded.

PSG president Nasser Al-Khelaifi even mentioned the need for a bigger stadium to accommodate the burgeoning crowds. With the Barcelona legend in the Parc des Princes, there's a strong possibility that PSG could win the coveted Champions League for the first time.