Paris Saint-Germain, after failing to win the Ligue 1 title last season, are now firing on all cylinders in the French top division. They currently lead the table with 40 points in 15 matches, 12 more than second-placed Rennes.
The trio of Lionel Messi, Kylian Mbappe and Neymar have been quite impressive but are yet to hit the highs one would expect of them. And while the club are back to their best in France, their Champions League form leaves a lot to be desired.
Nevertheless, some of their players have been in top form this season. In this article, we will take a look at the five best Paris Saint-Germain players as per WhoScored ratings.
Note: Only players who have played six or more league matches have been included in the list.
#5 Angel Di Maria (7.20)
Currently the fifth best PSG player is Argentine winger Angel Di Maria, as per WhoScored ratings. The former Real Madrid and Manchester United star has made nine league appearances this season, scoring three goals and providing three assists in the process.
Di Maria has consistently tested opposition defenses, taking 1.9 shots per game on average. His passing has been quite good too, especially when it comes to creating chances for his teammates. The 33-year-old has made 1.9 key passes per game while also carrying out 1.3 successful dribbles per game—one of his strong suits.
He is yet to open his account on both the goals and assists fronts in the Champions League. He will be looking to increase his output in Europe as PSG enter the knockout stage of the tournament.
#4 Idrissa Gueye (7.22)
Idrissa Gueye has been brilliant in midfield for PSG this season and is currently their fourth best player as per WhoScored ratings. The defensive midfielder has played 11 league matches this season for the club, scoring three goals as well.
The 32-year-old has guarded his defense in immense fashion, making an average of 0.9 interceptions every game. He has been great with his tackling too, making 2.1 challenges per match on average, which highlights his defensive solidity in the middle of the park.
Gueye has been impressive going forward as well, making one key pass every game. He has also completed 92% of his passes in the league so far. He has won 5.2 duels per game and PSG will hope he continues in a similar vein for the rest of the season.
#3 Lionel Messi (7.26)
Lionel Messi added a seventh Ballon d'Or to his armory recently but has failed to consistently find form in the ongoing league season. The Argentine, following his move to PSG in the biggest transfer of the summer, has struggled to get going in Ligue 1. He scored his first league goal for the club on the 20th of November.
Much of his inconsistency can be attributed to injury issues that have kept him out of seven league matches so far. He is yet to play in three consecutive Ligue 1 matches this season, which, to an extent, explains why he still has just one league goal. Messi, however, has provided three assists to his teammates so far, with all of them coming in a single game against Saint-Etienne.
In the Champions League, on the other hand, 34-year-old has been closer to his best. He has scored three goals so far in the competition. PSG's fans would love to see Messi get back to the level that helped him win seven Ballon d'Ors and many other accolades at Barcelona.
#2 Neymar (7.50)
Neymar is the second best player at Paris Saint-Germain based on WhoScored ratings. The Brazilian didn't feature in the first three league matches for PSG due to injury, but picked up the pace as soon as he gained match fitness.
The 29-year-old has scored three goals and provided as many assists in the league, putting him fifth on the list of Ligue 1 players as per WhoScored ratings. Even then, Neymar hasn't quite hit the highs that the fans and club expect of him.
He is yet to open his goal and assist account in the Champions League this season. His indifferent form has cost the club in Europe's premier football competition, where they are set to finish second in their group. Neymar recently suffered another injury setback that is reportedly likely to sideline the Brazilian star for two months.
#1 Kylian Mbappe (7.87)
Kylian Mbappe is currently the best Paris Saint-Germain player according to current form and WhoScored ratings. The Frenchman is the club's top scorer in Ligue 1 with seven goals and seven assists in 14 appearances.
Mbappe is the joint third-highest goal-scorer in Ligue 1 but is top of the list of assist-makers in the league with seven. Despite the arrival of Lionel Messi at PSG, Mbappe has continued to be the club's best asset.
Even in the Champions League, Mbappe has been in fine form, scoring two and assisting five goals. The Frenchman, however, is in the final year of his contract with the French giants. It seems highly likely that the 2018 World Cup winner will leave the club in the summer.