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Mauricio Pochettino’s PSG team look set to right the anomaly of losing out on the Ligue 1 title that occurred last term by dominating proceedings this campaign. The French Giants sit clear at the top of Ligue 1 with a 13-point advantage over their rivals Marseille and second-placed Nice.
Despite the trio of Lionel Messi, Kylian Mbappe and Neymar not hitting the heights expected of them this season, PSG still seem to have enough for the rest of the league to contend with.
In Europe, however, the French giants seem a long way from what is required to lift the biggest prize in club football. A tough pairing against Real Madrid in the Champions League round of 16 will test Mauricio Pochettino’s men and reveal if they’re made of sterner stuff than their inconsistent group stage performances showed.
PSG will hope to get their attackers singing from the same hymnal in the new year, as domestic domination is now not enough for their fans. The team will expect more from 7-time Ballon d’Or winner Lionel Messi as they look set to win their first Champions League trophy.
PSG have displayed mixed performances so far this season, but some of their stars have shone brightly. Without further ado, here are five of the best performing players for PSG so far this season:
#5 Lionel Messi
Ever since his high-profile move to the French capital in August, Lionel Messi has struggled to reach the heights he effortlessly got to at Barcelona. While some have attributed his difficulties at PSG to poor adaptability at a general level, many strongly believe that PSG's style of play has been the culprit.
Either way, the Argentine maestro has had a difficult start by his standards to life in France, but he has still performed well.
It's astonishing that Messi is going into the winter transfer window with just one Ligue 1 goal, especially because the star is highly popular for his goalscoring.
He has remained a creative force for the side, however, providing four assists in 11 Ligue 1 appearances. His Champions League form has been much better, with the star scoring five goals in five outings for PSG.
#4 Achraf Hakimi
The Moroccan international stormed the Serie A last season after he scored seven goals and assisted eight from a full-back position for Inter Milan. His talent was quite evident at Borussia Dortmund as well before that, where he managed five goals and ten assists in 33 Bundesliga appearances.
PSG splashed €60 million to snatch Achraf Hakimi from Inter, and it's safe to say he's continued his form at the French capital.
With just half the season gone, and 18 Ligue 1 games played, Hakimi has scored three goals and assisted three. His Champions League appearances haven't seen him mark a direct goal contribution, but the full-back's presence bombarding down the right flank has left little to be questioned.
#3 Neymar
When PSG matched Neymar's €222 million buyout fee in 2017, it sent shockwaves across world football, and expectations have been massive since Neymar moved to France. The star has played brilliantly in recent seasons, but injuries have held him back from reaching his obvious potential.
This season could also see Neymar play less than 20 Ligue 1 games after a recent horror ankle injury saw the star stretchered off the field in November.
However, the 29-year-old has been brilliant for PSG so far. His Champions League outings have yielded little fruit, but the star has scored three goals and made three assists in 10 Ligue 1 games.
#2 Marquinhos
PSG have only conceded 17 goals in 19 games this season, the second-lowest in Ligue 1, and Marquinhos' presence in the backline has been a key factor. The star center-back joined PSG from Roma in 2013 and has since become one of the club's most consistent forces in defense.
This season, Marquinhos has played 14 Ligue 1 games and six Champions League games, scoring three goals and aiding the side with an assist.
While his attacking record is remarkable for a center-back, his defensive output has been brilliant as well. Marquinhos has, on average, made over five clearances per game in the Champions League, as well as four per game in Ligue 1. He also rarely picks up bookings, having received just one yellow card in their last 18 appearances in all competitions.
#1 Kylian Mbappe
Ever since his big-money move to the French capital from Monaco in 2018, Kylian Mbappe has exceeded all expectations and become the club's biggest star. Although there are many conversations about his potential exit to Real Madrid, Mbappe has become a PSG legend at just 23 years of age.
The star is yet to renew his contract with the Parisians, but that has hardly stopped him from becoming their best performer so far this season.
In just 17 Ligue 1 appearances, Kylian Mbappe has scored nine goals and assisted eight. The star has maintained his status as PSG's main marksman while improving on his playmaking efforts as well. His Champions League outings have also been ruthless, with Mbappe snapping up four goals and six assists in six games.
