Picking the PSG all-time best XI is a difficult task, with Qatari money flooding in and enabling them to overtake St Etienne's once-proud record of 10 Ligue 1 titles almost in the blink of an eye.
Yet, even before the takeover by Qatar Sports Investments (QSI) in 2011, PSG had superstars in their past. Former Ballon d'Or winner George Weah is a prime example, and as this XI shows, the past should never be forgotten. Some amazing names have come and gone, and so we've compiled a dream Parisian XI without the otherwise obvious inclusion of Kylian Mbappe.
PSG all-time best XI
Goalkeeper: Bernard Lama
There is a good chance that someone like Alphonse Areola could go on to star for club and country, but this is the one position the new PSG-era has struggled with, making Lama the obvious choice between the sticks.
In seven seasons he managed to play over 300 games for the club. Amazing reflexes, stunning reaction saves and unmatched agility, he is still a legend among fans that were at the Parc des Princes in the 90s.
Lama was a key component of the 1994 title winning side, he also won the Coupe de France twice and UEFA Cup Winners' Cup in 1996 – his clean sheet against Rapid Wien in the final of the latter making him a Les Rouge-et-Bleu hero.
Centre Back: Ricardo Gomes
In order to try and squeeze as many stars as possible into this team, we have gone for 3-4-3 formation – it always helps that the club have a history of playing imperious centre-backs.
It is no surprise to find a towering Brazilian in the centre of the PSG defence, but Gomes was a star before his time.
Winning four trophies in four years with the club, he controlled the defence for over 150 games, winning the French title in 1994.
He should have been part of the legendary Brazil team in 1994, but on the eve of the tournament he picked up an injury and missed out on his country's World Cup victory in the USA.
Centre Back: Thiago Silva
Another Brazilian superstar… and while Silva may have lost his hero status in his homeland, for PSG he is the rock that four Ligue 1 titles have been built on.
Easily the best defender in France and still one of the best in Europe, it often seems like he is not tested week-to-week. However, when he needs to be switched on, like in the Champions League, there are not many better than the former AC Milan man.
Centre Back: Alain Roche
The thorn between two roses, the uncompromising Roche spent six years at the club and was part of the team that won the Cup Winners Cup in 96.
It takes a special kind of player to go from Marseille – via Auxerre – to Paris and become a club legend. He was named French Football Player of the Year in 1992 and would later play his part off the field too, becoming Sporting Director.
He finished his career as one of only three men that have lifted the French title with three different clubs – was part of the 1994 champions in Paris.
Defensive midfield: Marco Verratti
Verratti signed for the club as a teenager from Italian side Pescara, and was immediately a dynamic presence in the middle of the park. So much so, that he compared favourably even to Thiago Motta, Paul Le Guen and Claude Makelele.
When he arrived in the French capital, Verratti had never played top-flight football, now you cannot imagine the club without him.
His position in the PSG team was never more magnified than when he was injured during 2019/20. There was huge hole in the midfield that then-coach Laurent Blanc just could not replace.
Players with as much talent as Verratti has are priceless.
Right Midfield: Dominique Rocheteau
Rocheteau made his name as a part of the super successful Saint-Etienne side of the 70s. Labelled the Green Angel, he was an amazing player for club and country.
He actually spent seven years in Paris, played over 250 games and is still the club's third all-time leading goal scorer.
Trickery down the wings, pace and a great crosser of the ball, how current boss Unai Emery would love a player of his ability in his squad.
Attacking Midfield: Youri Djorkaeff
Other names might have been expected here. It is a gut-wrenching feeling to leave out Rai – he paved the way for the Brazilian influence on the club – and the legend that is Jay-Jay Okocha – who would later be reunited with Djorkaeff at Big Sam Allardyce's Bolton in 2002.
Despite being better known for his time at AS Monaco and Inter Milan, his stint at PSG will not be forgotten quickly.
You will not find him on the lists for top goal scorers, or appearances, he only actually played for PSG for one season.
However, the midfielder scored 19 goals in 46 games and helped the club win the Cup Winners' Cup that season. It doesn't get much better than that.
Attacking Midfield: Safet Susic
If Djorkaeff does not get you, there is a good chance that Susic will. The Yugoslavian midfielder scored an incredible 96 goals over nine seasons.
He added 61 assists for a team that struggled in the 80s. He was named Foreign Player of the Year in 1983, but only managed to pick up one league and one cup during his time in the French capital.
In 2010, France Football chose Susic as the best player in the history of PSG, obviously before the QSI era, above a roll call of historic names in this team. If it's good enough for them…
Left Midfield: Ronaldinho
On the left, there could only be one player to get the crowd on their feet. The likes of David Ginola and Valdo miss out, but this ‘smiling assassin' was a talent like no other – something that he would show the world with the Seleção and Barcelona.
He exuded class and unpredictability, and he was definitely a QSI-type megastar long before the Qataris laid their hands on the club.
Fans were only able to watch Ronnie's ability for two seasons, but that was enough for him to be remembered as a club legend – skills of the like they may never witness at the Parc des Princes again.
Centre Forward: Pauleta
You can only doff your cap to a player like Pauleta. The Portuguese striker joined the club from Bordeaux at a time when the capital club were truly struggling in 2003.
A truly awful PSG side – who finished 11th in Ligue 1 in the 2002/3 season – welcomed with open arms a player who had managed to score 109 goals in just five seasons.
He was a finisher like no other and, although a certain Swede (see below) has gone past him in the goal scoring table, for just how bad the early 2000's team was, each goal should count for more.
It boggles the mind to think just how many goals he could have scored in this current team. He would probably still manage at least 15 a season even now!
Iconic PSG goal: A classic in Le Classique
The date was 25th April 2004, and PSG were locked in a vicious three-way title race. Victory was a must, and the Parisians got off to a perfect start with a ball forward sending Pauleta clean through. Fabien Barthez raced out of goal to close him down, but the Portuguese forward took the ball wide, forcing the Frenchman to scramble back.
With his back almost at the byline, Pauleta looked to have the ball in nothing better than territory for a speculative in-swinging cross. But with the goal gaping and only Brahim Hemdani on the line, he chipped over Barthez and Hemdani to give PSG a vital lead, though the title ultimately wasn't forthcoming.
Centre Forward: Zlatan Ibrahimovic
Netting 156 goals in 180 appearances, Zlatan ‘the ego' Ibrahimovic has every right to walk around with a swollen head.
The club's all-time leading scorer in all competitions, Ibra has taken PSG to a level never previously thought possible, adding four league titles,
Zlatan is among the PSG all time top scorer list. He is an automatic pick in this best XI and will remain the best ever play Paris has ever seen for a very long time.
Iconic PSG goal: Breaking the sound barrier
In October 2013, Ibra went on a one-man crusade against the helpless Anderlecht, bagging four of five unanswered PSG goals at Lotto park. It was goal number three that stood out the most though, with a poor clearance from the Anderlecht defence finding the Swede on the edge of area.
What happened next was pure Zlatan, as he hit the ball first time to perfection, sending it flying into the roof of the net and duly completing one of his three club-level first-half hat tricks. Such was the ferocity of the strike, it was clocked at 76mph according to ESPN.
