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Paris Saint-Germain (PSG) have always been around as one of the strongest teams present. However, the Parisians have lacked quite the cutting edge that is required to put them at par with giants like Real Madrid, Barcelona and Bayern Munich.
The Ligue 1 juggernauts have further fortified their squad during this year's summer transfer window. The same has also put Pochettino and his men under a lot of pressure as they are expected to deliver week-in and week-out.
The kind of firepower possessed by PSG at the moment is enough to bring them trophies. Speaking of which, if we look at it, PSG never lacked any firepower. The nine-time Ligue 1 champions have housed a handful of their best players from across Europe.
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In this article, we are about to know more about the best southpaws who have donned the Parisian kit in the 21st century. Without further ado,
Ranking PSG'S 5 best left-footed players in the 21st century
#5 Mamadou Sakho (2007-2013)
The Paris-born center-back was a hot property during his boyhood days. Picked up by PSG at the age of 12, the young Mamadou Sakho switched from the role of striker to that of a defender. After taking some time to adapt to his new side and a series of bad behaviors, Sakho finally started settling in at Paris.
Rising through the ranks, he turned out to be not just one of the best left-footed but one of the best defensive players found by PSG. The Frenchman signed a professional contract with the club at the age of 17 and went onto be a regular starter right away.
Sakho played in about 201 games (across all competitions) in the Paris Saint-Germain jersey. He has won four major trophies with the club in his seven seasons at the Parc des Princes.
#4 Layvin Kurzawa (2015-Present)
Kurzawa earned a reputation for himself during his Monaco days, especially in the 2013-14 and 2015-16 seasons. The same reputation earned him a ticket to the Parc des Princes in 2015. At PSG, the French international had huge shoes to fill as club legend Maxwell was on the verge of retirement.
Deployed down the left-flank, this left-footed full-back didn't take much time to break into the first-team squad. Layvin Kurzawa is the first defender in modern Champions League history to score a hat-trick. He achieved this feat against Anderlecht in 2017.
Over the course of years, Kurzawa has evolved to be a more versatile player. However, even though as of now he faces competition from Abdou Diallo, Kurzawa remains one of the most important players at Pochettino's discretion.
#3 Maxwell (2012-2017)
If you compile a list of Parisian legends, Maxwell would probably occupy one of the top spots on it. The left-footed left-back has been one of the most influential players on the pitch and in the PSG dressing room.
Establishing a strong reputation at every club that he played for, Maxwell arrived in the French capital in 2012. The Brazilian signed for PSG during the 2012 winter transfer window and played the majority of his career games in the PSG kit.
Maxwell has been lauded for his aggressive approach as a full-back. His playing style was unconventional for a left-back during those times. The diminutive left-footed defender was a talented dribbler and enjoyed holding the ball at his feet.
After retiring, Maxwell took the job of assistant sporting director at PSG.
#2 Angel Di Maria (2015-Present)
The arrival of Gareth Bale threatened Angel Di Maria's position at Real Madrid back in 2014. After winning the UEFA Champions League title with the Galacticos, the Argentine voluntarily moved to Manchester United. He moved with the intention of testing himself in the world's toughest domestic league.
However, his career graph took a dip at Old Trafford and the player spent a frustrating tenure under Louis Van Gaal. The offer from PSG came as a boon for the Argentina winger as he arrived in Paris in 2015.
The deal worked both ways as Laurent Blanc was on the hunt to find a quick-feeted winger to fit into his plans. Angel Di Maria is one of the best left-footed players in the history of the game. The former Real Madrid number 11 is known for his feint moves and pace.
#1 Lionel Messi (2021-Present)
What do we call arguably the best player in the history of the sport who also happens to be left-footed? The answer is simple, Lionel Messi! It's only been a few months since Lionel Messi signed for the Parisians. But the Argentine has achieved enough for us to confidently establish him as the best left-footed PSG player this century or ever.
A shocking exit from his life-long club Barcelona saw Leo Messi seek shelter with the French giants as a free agent. The whole football world waited in unison to witness Messi's PSG debut and the goal. Though Messi still awaits his first goal for the French club in Ligue 1, he has scored three goals in the Champions League so far.
There are a lot of titles that fit this diminutive marauder. A master of dribbling, inhuman quickfeet, insane playmaking skills and far too strong left-foot that exploits the opponent defenders' weaker side. The list just goes on!
