Ranking PSG's 5 best captains in the 21st century

#3 Claude Makelele

Paris Saint-Germain FC v Marseille Olympic OM - French Cup

The pioneer of the 'Makelele role' was Claude Makelele, who is widely regarded as one of the greatest defensive midfielders in football history. After enjoying immense success throughout his career, Makelele joined PSG in 2008during the twilight years of his career.

Despite his old age, Makelele proved to be a crucial player for PSG. The French midfielder made 118 appearances for the Parisian club, demostrating his caliber in breaking down opponents' attacks. He used his experience to stamp his authority on matches and become a leader at the club.

Under Makelele's leadership, PSG managed to win the Coupe de France in the 2009-10 campaign. The legendary defensive-midfielder again proved to be a capable leader and acted as a mentor for the youth. Due to his exploits, Makelele was also appointed as an assistant manager to his former boss Carlo Ancelotti.

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#2 Pedro Pauleta

Emirates Cup

Pauleta was one of the greatest goalscorers in PSG's history, cementing his place as one of the legendary players to play for the club. The Portuguese marksman left an incredible legacy, scoring 109 goals for PSG during his five-season tenure at the club.

Pauleta was immediately a fan favorite with his exploits in front of goal. He was not only a prolific goalscorer but also technically proficient with the ball. The Portuguese legend was a threat to be reckoned with and a nightmare for defenders.

Pauleta helped PSG dominate the Coupe de France for a couple of seasons and was a capable leader. Despite not having the best of teams, Pauleta retired as the club's record goalscorer before Zlatan Ibrahimovic surpassed him.

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#1 Thiago Silva

Club Brugge KV v Paris Saint-Germain: Group A - UEFA Champions League

One of the greatest centre-backs of the modern generation, Thiago Silva etched his name on PSG's history books. The Brazilian arrived for a then-world record fee of €42 million in 2012. During his eight-year tenure in the French capital, he proved to be worth every penny and much for the Parisians.

Thiago Silva was a rock at the back for PSG, forging great partnerships with each of his defensive partners during his stint. He was a complete package and possessed every essential trait of a great defender.

With 315 appearances under his belt, Silva is eighth on the list of highest all-time appearances and is the club's longest serving captain. The centre-back led the Ligue 1 giants to unprecedented glory, winning seven league titles among other notable accolades.