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Ligue 1 club Paris Saint-Germain arguably have the most competitive squad in the world right now. The club have won nine Ligue 1 titles, seven in the last nine years, and are aiming for their first Champions League triumph.
Unlike most footballing powerhouses, PSG have not always had the financial muscle to back their ambitions. Now that they do, they are doing all they can to make the most of their good fortunes.
Creative footballers are not easy or cheap to come by. But seeing PSG accumulate some of the best creative footballers in the world, especially in the 21st century, is hardly a surprise.
On that note, here are the five most creative players PSG have fielded this century.
Special Mention: Jay-Jay Okocha
#5 Kylian Mbappe (2017 – Present)
Seeing Kylian Mbappe on this list of fine creators is hardly a head-scratcher. The Frenchman is one of the best players in the world and has proven to be decisive for PSG time and again since 2017.
The 2018 World Cup winner may very well have a reputation for being more of a goalscorer, but his ability to create is also substantial.
The former Monaco man is an expert at finding vulnerable areas and has the skills to back up his vision. His dazzling feet and breathtaking pace often draw defenders towards him, leaving his teammates in space. Mbappe tends to feed the ball back to his teammates, allowing them to hit the back of the net.
Mbappe has been in exceptional form since joining from Monaco in 2017. In only 185 matches for PSG, Mbappe has scored 138 goals and provided 69 assists across all competitions, averaging 1.12 goal contributions per match.
#4 Angel Di Maria (2015 – Present)
Angel Di Maria is one of the most creative footballers PSG have had the privilege of fielding. Throughout his illustrious career, the Argentine has not only created chances for his teammates, but has also popped up with important goals.
Playing further up the pitch, Di Maria has often been used as a winger or an attacking midfielder. His pace and crossing ability help when deployed as a winger, while his passing often proves to be decisive in the middle of the pitch.
Di Maria also loves to switch it up while crossing, throwing in a ‘Rabona’ or two when possible. For PSG, Di Maria has played 271 games so far, scoring 89 goals and providing 112 assists.
#3 Ronaldinho (2001 – 2003)
For PSG, Ronaldinho was not as prolific as Di Maria or Mbappe. However, the creative repertoire he had and the skills he produced easily propelled him above the current PSG stars.
PSG signed Ronaldinho from Gremio in the summer of 2001. The club were in desperate need of some inspiration and the Brazilian emerged as a messiah.
Ronaldinho beat the league's best defenders without breaking a sweat and he looked good while doing it. He could manifest goalscoring opportunities out of thin air, and there was no stopping him once he got going.
Ronaldinho’s moves mesmerized everyone in France. Unfortunately, his not-so-disciplined lifestyle and love for partying caught up to him. Having scored 25 goals and provided 17 assists in 77 games, Ronaldinho left for Barcelona.
He became the best player in the world at the Camp Nou and won the Ballon d’Or in 2005.
#2 Neymar (2017 – Present)
In 2017, PSG became the only club in history to break through the €200m ceiling for a player. Neymar, who signed for the club for €222m, was made the star of the PSG project, and the Brazilian was ecstatic to be chosen.
Since then, Neymar’s career at PSG has been disappointingly unpredictable. His genius has helped PSG in many matches, but he is yet to deliver the only trophy PSG are desperate for - the UEFA Champions League.
At Barcelona, Neymar’s creativity knew no bounds, and the trend has continued at PSG as well. He possesses an enviable arsenal of skills and tricks, helping him beat any defender on his day.
Neymar is also a capable ballplayer and is rarely shaky in the final third of the pitch. For PSG, Neymar has played 124 matches so far, netting 88 goals and assisting a further 54.
#1 Lionel Messi (2021 – Present)
Yes, summer signing Lionel Messi has not even played 10 games for PSG so far and has only scored three goals. But given his track record at Barcelona, it is impossible to keep the Argentine off this list.
Messi is not only one of the best strikers of the ball, but he is also one of the best providers. The former Barcelona player can provide inch-perfect crosses, thread the ball through a needle, and has the knack of sniffing out goalscoring opportunities.
At Barcelona, Messi scored 672 goals and provided 301 assists in 778 games across all competitions. If he can produce even a fraction of his earlier exploits at PSG, the French side might just win their first ever UEFA Champions League.
