Paris Saint-Germain FC

Paris Saint-Germain Football Club, commonly referred to as Paris Saint-Germain (French: [paʁi sɛ̃ʒɛʁmɛ̃], ult. ref. "Saint Germanus"), PSG, Paris, or Paris SG, are a French professional football club based in Paris. Founded in 1970, following the merger of Paris FC and Stade Saint-Germain, they compete in Ligue 1, the top division of French football. PSG play their home matches at the Parc des Princes. With 58 trophies won, they are the most successful club in France. PSG are the most popular football club in France and one of the most widely supported teams in the world. The club has a longstanding rivalry with Marseille, against whom they contest Le Classique.

After establishing itself in the top flight during the 1970s, the Parisians won their first major titles in the 1980s, beginning with two Coupe de France trophies and later their first Ligue 1 championship. The 1990s marked one of the most successful periods in the club's history, as PSG won nine trophies, including a second league title and their first European honour, the UEFA Cup Winners' Cup. A decline followed in the 2000s, although the club still captured a second European trophy with the UEFA Intertoto Cup. A resurgence began in the 2010s after PSG were acquired by the government-operated Qatar Sports Investments (QSI), whose significant financial backing enabled the club to dominate domestic competitions and become a regular contender in the UEFA Champions League. In 2025, PSG won their first Champions League title, later adding the UEFA Super Cup and the FIFA Intercontinental Cup to complete the most successful year in the club's history.

PSG have won a total of 53 domestic trophies: a record 13 Ligue 1 titles, one Ligue 2 title, a record 16 Coupe de France, a record 9 Coupe de la Ligue, and a record 14 Trophée des Champions. Internationally, the club has claimed five major trophies. PSG lifted the UEFA Cup Winners' Cup in 1996, becoming the only French club to win that competition and one of just two French teams to secure a major European title. The UEFA Intertoto Cup in 2001 marked the club's second continental triumph. In 2025, they won the UEFA Champions League, becoming the second French club to do so and the first to complete a continental treble. That same year, PSG also won the UEFA Super Cup and the FIFA Intercontinental Cup, becoming the first French side to claim both trophies, earning the first club world title in French football history, and completing an unprecedented sextuple.

Since 2011, PSG have been majority-owned by QSI, with Arctos Partners acquiring a minority stake in 2023. As of January 2026, PSG are the richest club in France, rank among the wealthiest football clubs globally, and are one of the most valuable clubs in the world. Beyond its men's football team, the club operates a youth academy, a women's football team, and departments in handball, judo, and esports. PSG's women's team are among the highest-revenue sides in world women's football, while its handball team have the largest budget in European handball. The club have previously fielded teams in basketball, volleyball, boxing, and rugby league.

History

Paris Saint-Germain were founded in 1970 following the merger of Paris FC and Stade Saint-Germain. PSG made an immediate impact, winning Ligue 2 and thus achieving promotion to Ligue 1 in their first season. Their momentum was soon halted, and the club split in 1972. Paris FC remained in the top flight, while PSG were relegated to Division 3. After two consecutive promotions, PSG quickly returned to the top flight in 1974 and moved to the Parc des Princes.

The club's first trophies arrived in the 1980s. Led by players such as Safet Sušić, Luis Fernandez and Dominique Rocheteau, the Parisians claimed back-to-back Coupe de France in 1982 and 1983, and their first Ligue 1 title in 1986. A steep decline followed, but the takeover by Canal+ in 1991 revitalized PSG. Led by David Ginola, George Weah and Raí, the club won nine trophies and reached five consecutive European semi-finals during the 1990s. Notably, Paris captured their second league title in 1994 and the UEFA Cup Winners' Cup in 1996, with the legendary Luis Fernandez now as manager.

At the beginning of the 21st century, the Parisians were struggling to get back to the top despite the magic of Ronaldinho and the goals of Pauleta. Five more trophies followed: three Coupe de France, a Coupe de la Ligue and a UEFA Intertoto Cup, but PSG became better known for struggling through one crisis after another. Inevitably, Canal+ sold the club to Colony Capital in 2006. However, the situation only worsened, and PSG spent the next two seasons avoiding relegation.

The club's fortunes changed dramatically with the arrival of Qatar Sports Investments, operated by the government of Qatar, as owners in 2011. Since then, PSG have invested heavily in signings of world-class players such as Zlatan Ibrahimović, Lionel Messi, Neymar and Kylian Mbappé, the latter two being the most expensive transfers in football history. As a result, PSG have dominated French football, winning 37 trophies: eleven league titles, eight Coupe de France, six Coupe de la Ligue and eleven Trophée des Champions. They have also become a regular in the knockout stages of the UEFA Champions League, reaching the final for the first time in their history in 2020 and winning their first title in 2025 as part of a continental treble. The reigning European champions also claimed the 2025 UEFA Super Cup and the 2025 FIFA Intercontinental Cup, achieving an unprecedented sextuple.

Identity

Colours and mascot

Since their foundation, Paris Saint-Germain have represented both the city of Paris and the nearby royal town of Saint-Germain-en-Laye. As a result, red, blue and white are the club's traditional colours. The red and blue are Parisian colours, a nod to revolutionary figures Lafayette and Jean Sylvain Bailly, and the white is a symbol of French royalty and Saint-Germain-en-Laye.

On the club's crest, the Eiffel Tower in red and the blue background represent Paris, while the fleur de lys in white is a hint to the coat of arms of Saint-Germain-en-Laye. The fleur de lys is a royal symbol as well and recalls that French King Louis XIV was born in the town. Throughout its history, PSG have brandished several crests, but all of them have featured the club's three historical colours.

Likewise, PSG's most distinctive shirts have been predominantly red, blue or white, with the remaining two colours included as well. The club's official mascot, Germain the Lynx, also sports PSG's traditional colours. It was unveiled during the 2010 Tournoi de Paris in commemoration of the club's 40th anniversary, and can be seen entertaining kids in the stands of the Parc des Princes or near the pitch with the players during the warm-up.

Anthems and mottos

"Allez Paris!", recorded by Belgian actress and singer Annie Cordy in 1971, was the club's first official anthem. A PSG fan from the very beginning, she was part of an association of hundreds of celebrities who contributed to the club's founding in 1970. At the time, an appeal was made to anonymous people to buy season tickets at newsstands. A year later, Cordy was named PSG's official godmother and recorded the aforementioned anthem.

The club's second anthem, "Allez Paris-Saint-Germain!" by Les Parisiens, was recorded in 1977, replacing Cordy's version. It was produced and released by long-time PSG leader and music producer Charles Talar. The chorus became a popular chant among PSG fans during matches. A new version, with the same name, was recorded in 2010 as part of the club's 40th anniversary celebrations. Performed to the tune of "Go West" by the Village People, the lyrics were rewritten with suggestions from the fans. This is the current official anthem of the club. It was premiered at the 2010 edition of the Tournoi de Paris.

"Ô Ville Lumière", set to the tune of "Flower of Scotland", is another authentic club anthem for PSG fans. This chant was created by former KoB ultra group Boulogne Boys. Other notable chants include "Le Parc est à nous" ("The Parc is ours"), "Ici, c'est Paris" ("This is Paris"), and "Paris est magique" ("Paris is magical"). "Who Said I Would" by English musician Phil Collins is also a traditional fan anthem. The song has accompanied the players' entrance onto the field since 1992. Collins was preceded by French singer Michel Fugain and his 1972 song "Attention, Ladies and Gentlemen".

"Ici, c'est Paris" and "Paris est magique" are also the club's most iconic mottos. The former was created by former VA ultra group Supras Auteuil, who trademarked it in 2008. PSG started using the "Ici, c'est Paris" slogan in their marketing and a legal battle ensued with the Supras. In February 2016, the group rejected the club's offer of €2,000 for the ownership rights. They eventually reached an agreement in August 2019. The club would continue advertising the slogan, and fans would still be able to use it freely.