From the outset, FC PSG has aspired to become the best football club in the world. The club was created based on a question: “Do you want a great football club in Paris?“. Over 17,000 people responded, and Paris FC and Stade Saint-Germanois merged to form FC PSG. The club's ambition is to become the best in the world, but can it do it? Focus on the club's potential, history, and challenges.
Which are the best football clubs in the world?
At present, Real Madrid, Manchester City, Bayern Munich, Inter Milan and Chelsea hold the title. The ranking takes into account several criteria, such as the club's history, the performance of its players and the number of trophies won.
Can PSG become the best football club in the world? To answer this question, we need to follow the club's development and analyze its potential and its chances of achieving these goals, based on the resources it has deployed.
What is FC PSG's current position?
FC PSG has gradually built up its worldwide reputation. To understand its current position, we need to follow its path and discover its successes.
Club history
A stadium without a team (Stade Saint-Germanois) and a team without a stadium (Paris FC) gave birth to FC PSG. The club was founded in 1970. It is located in Saint-Germain-en-Laye, Paris. Its players train at the Paris Saint-Germain Campus in Poissy and play at the Parc des Princes.
In 1973, it was taken over by Daniel Hechter and reached the First Division in 1974. This initial success enabled the club to attract stars such as Carlos Bianchi and Mustapha Dahleb. It was then taken over by Francis Borelli, with whom the club won its first French league titles, with players of the caliber of Luis Fernandez and Dominique Rocheteau.
In 1991, Canal+ took over ownership of the Red and Blues, propelling the club into the ranks of European giants. FC PSG played in numerous continental semi-finals and even won its first European trophy: the Cup Winners' Cup in 1996.
In 2011, the club was owned by Qatar Sports Investments headed by Nasser AL-Khelaïfi. More and more passionate and talented players have joined the team, including Kylian Mbappé, Neymar Jr, Marquinhos, and many others. They continue the determination and ambition of their predecessor: to take the club to the top.
47 titles: The Success Story of FC PSG
FC PSG has racked up a string of titles in its quest to become the best club in the world. Since winning the French Division 2 championship in 1971, the club has enjoyed a string of domestic successes:
- 11 French Championship titles, including 2 in 2022 and 2023
- 14 Coupe de France trophies including 2 in 2020 and 2021
- 11 Champions Trophies, most recently in 2022
- 9 League Cups
On the international stage, FC PSG won the Coupe des Vainqueurs de Coupe in 1996 and the Intertoto Cup in 2001. It was a finalist in the C1 Champions League in 2020.
Worldwide recognition and reputation
In its early days, FC PSG failed to break the 10,000 spectator barrier, but as a result of its progress, it has averaged over 40,000 spectators since the late 1990s. For the 2019-2020 season, for example, it is averaging 47,542 spectators per match. In 2016, it reached the Parc des Princes attendance record with 47,929 spectators when the club met Marseille, which ended in a draw.
The club is also popular with the media. Le Parisien and L'Équipe regularly devote columns to the club. On social networks, it is No. 1 in France and the 4th most-followed club in the world. It has over 157 million followers on Instagram, Facebook, TikTok, Twitter, YouTube, Snapchat and Twitch.
It also confirms its development and power on the global economic stage by appearing in Forbes' top 10 most valuable clubs in the world in 2021. It came in 9th place, at $2.5 billion. According to Nasser AL-Khelaïfi, this ranking makes the club: “The global reference in the world of sport and lifestyle“.
What is the potential of the FC PSG club?
Can FC PSG become the best football club in the world? What is its financial potential, the talent of its players, and its ability to train?
PSG's financial strength
FC PSG's success attracts sponsors, who account for 60% of the club's revenue. According to Capital magazine, sponsorship brought in 399 million euros for the club in 2022. Its influence in the media also brought in 131 million euros in TV rights. Thanks to its resources, FC PSG can recruit new talent, citing for example the transfer of Kylian Mbappé in 2018, which cost 180 million euros, or that of Neymar in 2017, which cost 22 million euros.
PSG player training
FC PSG's strength lies in the talent of its players, but also in its ability to train. For the record, it has already won the FFF title of best youth club in 1989, 2011, 2013, and 2014.
The FC PSG training center has been nurturing talented players since 1974. The center has trained giants such as Luis Fernandez, Jérôme Leroy, and many others. The club's financial resources enable it to retain the best players.
A strategic management team
The strategy of the FC PSG coaching team is to play to the strengths while taking into account the limitations and weaknesses of the players. The coaching team also knows how to establish the best configuration according to the performance of each player and the opponents they face.
If you have any doubts about the potential of the PSG football club's coaching staff and players, you can visit this site and read the predictions, analyses, and detailed comments before the match in which PSG will be playing.
How does FC PSG measure up against the best football clubs in the world?
Numerous major clubs were founded and built up a fine reputation before the founding of FC PSG. These include Bayern Munich, Real Madrid, and FC Barcelona. They are among the best football clubs in the world, but not FC PSG. Can it dethrone them? What is its potential against these clubs?
PSG: a young club compared to the best in the world
FC PSG is the youngest club (1970) compared with Bayern Munich (1896), FC Barcelona (1899) and Real Madrid (1902). If we consider the year of foundation, we can say that FC PSG is behind the times, unlike its rivals who already have years of experience and titles under their belts.
Titles and longevity: the gap between PSG and the world's best football clubs
The gap between FC PSG and the best football clubs in the world is average. There's a gap of 30 titles between it and Bayern Munich, founded 74 years before PSG. There is also a gap of 30 titles between the club and FC Barcelona, its 71-year predecessor. Between FC PSG and Real Madrid, there's a gap of 44 titles.
The greatest challenge facing PSG
His biggest challenge, if he is to become the best, is to far surpass his elders in terms of achievement. However, his ability to train and his financial resources mean that he has the best players of all time. If he keeps up his efforts, he'll be able to compete with his rivals.
How will PSG achieve its goal?
To achieve its goal, FC PSG relies on the development of talent via its training center. To assert its presence on the international stage, it relies not only on the talent of its players but also on its fan base.
Transferring knowledge and skills
FC PSG relies on the transmission of knowledge and skills to reach the top. It trains the great footballers of tomorrow at its training center. The center has been awarded the DNT label for its high-quality sports and educational facilities. The training center has also been awarded Prestige and Class A status. It enables youngsters to work under optimum conditions to join the world of FC PSG.
Infrastructure and fan base
FC PSG has a 74-hectare training center in Poissy. It features a large weight room, a medical area, several training pitches, as well as bedrooms, a panoramic terrace, catering, and video facilities. It has everything it takes to enhance players' physical performance while ensuring their well-being.
As well as investing in its players, PSG also takes care of its fans, touching the hearts of many people around the world. It has set up a fan club program that gives access to numerous advantages, such as :
- Privileged access to group ticketing
- Closeness to the players
- The chance to become a club ambassador
- Etc.
All this generates commitment and strengthens PSG's presence in the world.
FC PSG: can it become the best football club in the world?
To become the best football club in the world, PSG needs to surpass its competitors and assert its presence on a global scale. To do this, it needs to train and retain the best players and further expand its fan base.
However, PSG will have plenty of opportunities to achieve its ambitions. In any case, we'll be keeping a close eye on the club to see how it develops.