Paris Saint-Germain has long relied on and even prioritised bringing through and establishing French defenders, but throughout the club’s history, the hierarchy hasn’t been able to resist signing stars from overseas.
To date, 25 defenders have made over 150 appearances for the Parisian club, with 15 passing the 200-game mark, so the pool of top picks is considerable for the greatest PSG defenders of all time.
These are the defenders that made the cut, from one of the original PSG stalwarts to modern phenomenons of the backline.
Marquinhos (2013 – Present)
Still only 31-years-old and relied upon as the rock of the PSG backline, Marquinhos is already the club’s record holder for games played with 495, at the time of writing, and earns a handsome weekly wage as a result.
This season, he’ll continue to captain the club he’s been with for over 12 years and bust the 500-game mark. In that time, while his defensive attributes have held him firmly in the starting XI, he’s also scored 42 goals and 12 assists.
The Brazilian came to France after a season in the Corinthians first team and another 30 games for AS Roma generated enough hype to make him one of the most coveted young centre-backs in world football.
He arrived for around £30 million and has since helped the club to ten Ligue 1 titles, eight Coupe de France wins, six triumphs in the French league cup, and, finally, the UEFA Champions League in 2024/25.
Defensive stability is essential for any hopes of winning silverware, and Marquinhos’ continued place in the PSG defence has greatly helped to make them clear favourites in the Ligue 1 odds and put them among the frontrunners in Europe.
Without question, Marquinhos is already the greatest PSG defender of all time, and he’ll only continue to grow his indomitable legacy over the coming seasons.
Jean-Marc Pilorget (1975-1988)
Before Marquinhos, Jean-Marc Pilorget was the ultimate defender for the Parisians. Born in the French capital, he made his way into the PSG starting XI in 1975 and refused to budge over the next 13 years.
His final year on PSG books saw him loaned out to Cannes, but before this, and before his eventual move to Guingamp in 1989, he amassed a then-record 436 matches and scored 17 goals for the club.
Pilorget’s legacy is one of consistently playing at a very high level and being an imposing figure in the French league. As one of the earliest stars of the 1970-founded club, the standards he set were vital going forward.
From 1981/82 to 1985/86, Pilorget helped the young club to win the Coupe de France twice and hoist its first league title – a feat that wouldn’t be repeated for nearly a decade.
As such, Jean-Marc Pilorget deserves to retain a place on this list of the greatest Paris Saint-Germain defenders of all time.
Thiago Silva (2012-2020)
At the time Thiago Silva arrived in Paris for the 2012/13 season, he’d already built a stellar reputation across RS Futebol, Juventude, FC Porto, Dinamo Moscow, Fluminense, Dinamo Moscow, and AC Milan.
Paris Saint-Germain – with the new owners looking to make several statement signings – picked him up from the San Siro for close to £40 million, making him the most expensive defender in the world.
Over the next eight years, Silva would become the longest-serving captain of the club, lead the Parisians to seven Ligue 1 titles and 17 trophies across the three major French cup competitions.
The Brazilian centre back did all of that in just 315 games and was an integral mentor to compatriot Marquinhos, helping who would become the greatest PSG defender of all time reach the heights that he has at Parc de Princes.
Now 41-years-old, Thiago Silva remains active in professional football. He returned to his first club, Fluminense, to play as captain and help them compete in Série A betting circles.
Maxwell (2012-2017)
Another defender signed to swiftly bolster the ranks of the club early into the new ownership, Maxwell had already established himself as a reliable and talented left back for Inter Milan and FC Barcelona.
In Spain, he was utilised up and down the left side, but rose to prominence in the 2009/10 season when he successfully filled in for Eric Abidal when the storied full-back missed the second half of the league-winning campaign.
Even so, PSG were able to get the speedy Brazilian for a mere £3 million. He was immediately added to the starting XI and held down the left-back position until his penultimate season.
That final 2016/17 campaign, however, still saw Maxwell amass over 30 starts, securing his legacy as a technically superb, dependable, and exciting left back who could always be relied upon for his strong two-way play.
With four Ligue 1 titles and a collection of ten French cups from his 214 games on the backline, Maxwell’s underrated time in the capital earns him a place among the greatest PSG defenders of all time.
Achraf Hakimi (2021 – Present)
Amidst an absurd rush of big-name free agents coming to Paris in the summer of 2021, Achraf Hakimi was hailed as one of the club’s best additions despite paying over £60 million for the right back from Inter Milan.
Hakimi has been a known talent for over a decade, having come through the Real Madrid academy, established himself for Borussia Dortmund on a two-year loan, and then he took Serie A by storm with Inter.
Now, still only 26-years-old, Hakimi is rightly considered to be one of, if not the best right back in the world. The Moroccan has cemented this reputation as a PSG defender, even with a much vaunted surrounding cast.
Still able to tap into his elite-tier two-way play as a wing back with Inter, Hakimi has now amassed 185 games, 25 goals, and 37 assists to date.
Hakimi was instrumental in them winning their first Champions League trophy, along with claiming every Ligue 1 title on offer since his arrival, and will now only grow his standing as one of the greatest Paris Saint-Germain defenders of all time.
