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Ligue 1 giants Paris Saint-Germain (PSG) have become a force to be reckoned with in Europe. They have been knocking on the door of European success for a few years now and look destined to take the final step, with the likes of Lionel Messi and Sergio Ramos, this time around.
PSG’s European history is not the greatest, of course, with the French club yet to win a single UEFA Champions League trophy. However, that does not mean great players have not featured for the 9-time domestic champions.
Today, we will be taking a look at some of the greatest players who had the chance of wearing PSG’s famous blue kit. These players may not be outright legends of the club, but their status in world football is nothing but legendary. Now, without further ado, let us take a look at
5 greatest footballers of all time to feature for PSG
Special mention: Pauleta, Claudio Makelele
#5 Zlatan Ibrahimovic (2012-2016)
Zlatan Ibrahimovic is one of the most famous characters in football. Not only is he known for his insane goal-scoring ability, but he has also amassed quite a fan following for his amusing and often narcissistic quotes.
The Sweden international spent considerable time plying his trade in the French capital and was a key instigator behind PSG’s ascension in the UEFA Champions League. PSG signed Ibrahimovic in the summer of 2012 from AC Milan for a reported fee of €20 million. Over the next four seasons, he scored a whopping 156 goals in only 180 appearances, helping the club to four league titles and three French Cups.
Although European success eluded him, Ibrahimovic enjoyed quite a remarkable spell at PSG and was received with grand applause when he signed for Manchester United as a free agent in 2016.
#4 David Beckham (2013)
Manchester United and Real Madrid icon David Beckham is one of the most versatile, creative, and marketable footballers the world has ever seen. His spell with PSG was not remarkable in terms of footballing exploits, but he is definitely one of the best players of all time to play for PSG.
Beckham won it all with Manchester United — six Premier League titles and a UEFA Champions League trophy — and went to Real Madrid as one of the hottest properties in the market.
He did not enjoy the best of spells with the Spanish giants either, but was one of the best in the league during his time with Los Blancos. Following his spell with LA Galaxy, he joined PSG in January 2013, signing a five-month contract with the club and pledging to donate his entire salary to a local charity for children.
He played in only 14 games for PSG and hung up his boots at the end of the season, signing off with a Ligue 1 winner’s medal. As mentioned above, his spell at PSG may have been extremely brief, but there's no denying that he's one of the best players to ever appear for the French club.
#3 George Weah (1992-1995)
PSG star George Weah was not as marketable as David Beckham, but he is also one of the best the world has ever seen. Weah, who played for the club between 1992 and 1995 enjoyed a fantastic spell, scoring a plethora of crucial goals for the club.
Signed from Monaco following his strong performance in the European Cup Winners’ Cup in 1992, Weah was immediately slotted into the PSG lineup. His physical strength, unique ability to carry the ball from midfield, and sharpshooting skills earned him plenty of admirers. Weah’s skills on the pitch helped PSG to two Coupe de France titles and the French league in 1994.
Weah was also the leading scorer of the 1994-95 UEFA Champions League campaign with 7 goals. His heroics helped PSG to a semi-final appearance in the competition. He left the club the following summer, signing for AC Milan where he enjoyed the most successful spell of his career.
#2 Ronaldinho (2001-2003)
In many ways, Brazilian great Ronaldinho defined the art of football. He didn't just score extraordinary goals and help his team win. He also made it a point to make the sport as entertaining as possible.
Ronaldinho signed for PSG ahead of the 2001-02 season, sealing a reported €5 million transfer from Gremio. Despite having a comparatively weak team to support him, Ronaldinho excelled as a midfielder. He was the best ball carrier PSG could have hoped for and even proved to be a menacing presence in the final third of the pitch.
His addiction to the town’s nightlife affected his relationship with the coach in the first season but he retained his place in the team due to his sheer genius on the ball. In the 2002-03 season, PSG finished 11th in the league, after which Ronaldinho decided to leave the club and join La Liga giants Barcelona.
#1 Lionel Messi (2021-present)
Yes, Lionel Messi has only played 30 minutes for PSG so far, but we cannot help but keep the Argentina international on this list, as he is undoubtedly one of, if not the best, player in the history of the sport.
Lionel Messi spent his entire career at Barcelona before signing for PSG in the summer of 2021. During his time with the Blaugrana, Messi won 10 La Liga and four UEFA Champions League titles, emerging as the undisputed best player of the era. The Argentina captain was awarded six Ballons d’Or for his exploits at Barcelona.
PSG have signed La Liga’s record goalscorer as a free agent, creating a formidable front-three of Messi, Neymar, and Kylian Mbappe. Messi is known for his inhuman dribbling, set-piece prowess and unmatched goal-scoring, Naturally, he will be expected to play a starring role in this team and hopefully end their UEFA Champions League drought at the end of the 2021-22 season.
