Ligue 1 giants Paris Saint-Germain on Tuesday announced the free transfer of Argentine great Lionel Messi in a deal that will run till 2023.
The six-time FIFA Player of the Year will now feature alongside superstars like Neymar, Kylian Mbappe, Angel Di Maria, Marco Verratti and Sergio Ramos.
In this piece, Completesports.com’s JAMES AGBEREBI takes a look at seven football greats who have also donned the jersey of Paris Saint-Germain.
AUSTIN OKOCHA
In 1998, Paris Saint-Germain signed Austin Okocha for £14 million, making him the most expensive African player at the time.
During his four-year stint with PSG, Okocha played 84 matches and scored 12 goals. He has also served as a mentor, at the time, for young Brazilian footballer Ronaldinho.
He won the Trophee des Champions (French Super Cup) in 1998 and the UEFA Intertoto Cup in 2001.
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RONALDINHO
Ronaldinho signed a five-year contract with Paris Saint-Germain in a €5 million transfer in 2001 from Brazilian club Gremio.
The Brazilian great spent just two seasons at Paris Saint-Germain, scoring 17 goals in 55 appearances.
In the 2002/2003 season PSG finished in a disappointing 11th place . Following the season, Ronaldinho declared he wanted to leave and eventually signed for Barcelona.
GEORGE WEAH
Currently president of Liberia, George Weah joined Paris Saint-Germain in 1992 before departing for AC Milan in 1995.
During his time at PSG, Weah won the Coupe de France in 1993 and 1995, the French league in 1994, and the Coupe de la Ligue in 1995.
He also became the top scorer of the 1994–95 UEFA Champions League, with seven goals, after reaching the semi-finals with the club, one of which was a skilful individual “wonder-goal” against Bayern Munich in the group stage, on 23 November 1994.
DAVID BECKHAM
On 31 January 2013, David Beckham signed a five-month deal with Paris Saint-Germain which made him the 400th player in the history of the club.
On 16 May 2013, Beckham announced that he would retire from professional football at the end of that year’s French football season.
Beckham was handed the captaincy armband in his final home game against Brest where he assisted a goal by Blaise Matuidi from a corner.
He was subbed off after 80 minutes, receiving hugs from his fellow players and manager, as well as a standing ovation from fans. PSG went on to win the game 3–1.
YOURI DJORKAEFF
France 1998 World Cup and Euro 2000 winner, Youri Djorkaeff, joined Paris Saint-Germain in 1995 from another Ligue 1 giants AS Monaco.
In his only season with the club (1995/1996) Djorkaeff helped PSG to the now defunct UEFA Cup Winners’ Cup.
He made 35 appearances and scored 13 goals for the capital club before switching to Serie A giants Inter Milan in 1996.
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CLAUDE MAKELELE
After an illustrious career which saw him play for the likes of Chelsea, Real Madrid, Marseille among others, Claude Makelele ended his football career at PSG whom he joined in 2008.
Credited for revolutionizing the defensive midfield position, Makelele’s only trophy with PSG was the Coupe de France in 2010.
After 98 appearances and just one goal, Makelele retired in 2011 and was appointed the assistant manager to Carlo Ancelotti, who had just joined PSG from Chelsea.
ZLATAN IBRAHIMOVIC
The legendary Swedish striker signed for Paris Saint-Germain in 2012 and had a four-year trophy-laden spell.
He won the Ligue 1 title in all the four years he spent at PSG, won the French Cup, French League Cup and French Super Cup.
Ibrahimovic also won nine Player of the Month awards during his time at PSG and was fourth behind Cristiano Ronaldo, Lionel Messi and Franck Ribery in the FIFA Ballon’Or award.
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