Paris Saint-Germain and Barcelona have developed fairly a rivalry over time. Their followers can’t appear to face one another and there may be all the time an additional layer of animosity each time they meet within the UEFA Champions League.
The French and Spanish champions will renew hostilities within the 2023-24 Champions League quarter-final, with the primary leg scheduled on the Parc des Princes on Wednesday (April 10). Barcelona, in the meantime, will host the return leg on the Lluis Companys Olympic Stadium on April 16, as the enduring Camp Nou is beneath wraps for renovation.
As we rely down the hours to the mega showdown, allow us to take a fast have a look at 5 world-class gamers who represented each European powerhouses, beginning with a legendary attacker who performed for PSG earlier than it was cool. Let’s start!
#5 Ronaldinho
Many high gamers have moved to PSG after QSI acquired a majority stake within the membership in 2011. Ronaldinho, nevertheless, donned the Parisians’ colours earlier than they had been a high title within the European circuit. One of the vital entertaining gamers in historical past, Ronaldinho, joined PSG forward of the 2001-02 season. He spent two seasons within the French capital earlier than jetting off to Barcelona. Previous to his swap, the 2002 FIFA World Cup winner performed 65 video games for the Parisians in all competitions, scoring 20 occasions and offering 15 assists.
Ronaldinho unlocked his greatest model throughout his five-season stint at Camp Nou. He emerged as one of the best on the planet throughout his keep, scoring 88 targets and offering 46 assists in 187 video games for the membership in all competitions. He received two La Liga titles and one UEFA Champions League at Barca, rightfully claiming the 2005 Ballon d’Or for his heroics.
#4 Neymar
In 2013, Barcelona prized Brazilian sensation Neymar away from Santos, giving him a chance to make his mark in Europe. Over the next 4 years, he dazzled everybody along with his expertise and targets, serving to the Catalans to 2 La Liga titles and one UEFA Champions League. Neymar was one among Barca’s standout performers as they received the Treble within the 2014-15 season. In these 4 years, he performed 180 video games for Barca, scoring 103 occasions and offering 56 assists.
Allured by his aura, PSG triggered his €222 million ($240.92 million) launch clause in the summertime of 2017, making him the costliest signing in historical past. Neymar was on the Parc des Princes for six years earlier than signing for Al-Hilal. Throughout his keep, he scored a good-looking 118 targets and offered 69 assists in 173 video games, however he couldn’t assist the Parisians to their final purpose — the UEFA Champions League.
#3 Thiago Motta
The one non-attacking participant on this listing, Thiago Motta loved fruitful spells at each Barcelona and PSG. The previous Italian defensive midfielder made his senior crew debut at Barcelona within the 2001-02 season. Following three first rate years within the Catalan capital, he spent two seasons at Serie B facet Genoa.
Having gained the mandatory expertise, Motta rejoined Barca forward of the 2004-05 season. His high quality within the center helped the Catalans to 2 consecutive top-flight titles and one UEFA Champions League trophy. Motta performed 133 video games for Barca in all competitions, scoring 9 occasions and claiming 11 assists earlier than leaving for Atletico Madrid in 2007.
After spells at Atletico, Genoa, and Inter Milan, Motta joined PSG in 2011, and cemented his title as one of many membership’s best-ever midfielders over the next seven seasons. Earlier than hanging up his boots on the finish of the 2017-18 season, Motta performed 217 video games for PSG in all competitions, scoring 10 occasions and offering 16 assists. Motta received 19 trophies for the Parisians, together with 5 Ligue 1 titles and 4 French Cups.
#2 Zlatan Ibrahimovic
One of the vital scientific strikers of the twenty first century, Zlatan Ibrahimovic joined then-Pep Guardiola’s Barcelona from Inter Milan in July 2009. The previous Swedish center-forward hit the bottom working in Catalonia however quickly fell out along with his supervisor, resulting in his exit the next summer season. In his sole season at Camp Nou, Ibrahimovic scored 20 occasions and offered eight assists in 39 matches throughout competitions.
Following a short stint at AC Milan, Ibrahimovic grew to become PSG’s marquee signing, pledging allegiance to the membership in July 2012. Over the next 4 years, he performed 167 video games for the Ligue 1 outfit, scoring 145 occasions and claiming 50 assists. His ruthless ending helped PSG to 4 consecutive Ligue 1 titles and two French Cups, amongst different honors.
#1 Lionel Messi
Arguably one of the best participant in soccer historical past, Lionel Messi, sits on the summit. The La Masia graduate spent 16 lengthy years with Barcelona’s senior crew between 2005 and 2021, profitable each trophy conceivable and establishing himself as an icon.
With him firing from the entrance, Barcelona received 10 La Liga titles and 4 UEFA Champions League trophies, amongst different honors, having fun with an unfathomable spell of dominance in Spain. Messi scored an astonishing 627 occasions and offered 250 assists in 714 video games for the Catalan powerhouse in all competitions, snatching six Ballon d’Or Awards for his heroics.
Messi had each intention of retiring at Barcelona, however attributable to monetary turmoil, the membership couldn’t renew his contract in 2021, resulting in his exit. The 2022 FIFA World Cup winner joined PSG as a free agent in 2021 and spent two mediocre seasons within the French capital. He performed 75 video games for Les Parisiens, scoring 32 occasions and offering 34 assists. His exploits helped PSG to 2 Ligue 1 titles.
