PSG-Barcelona: a fierce rivalry and a shared history

From Ronaldinho to Lionel Messi and Ousmane Dembélé to Luis Enrique, Paris Saint-Germain and Barcelona have a rich shared history.

Dembélé, Luis Enrique, and the continuation of tradition

Legends of the game have gone on to play for both of these iconic clubs. Ronaldinho, one of the greats to have played the game, and a Ballon d'Or winner, was one of the first big names to play for PSG and Barcelona. His stint at the former came in the early 2000s, and he won the UEFA Intertoto Cup before joining the Blaugrana. It was there that he would be crowned the greatest player in world football.

But he isn't the only Ballon d'Or winner to have represented both clubs. Messi holds the record for the most Ballon d'Or wins with eight, seven of which came while he was at the Catalan club, but his most recent came during his stint at PSG, and in the wake of Argentina's World Cup success in 2022.

Dembélé is the latest to follow that trajectory. He won the award for the first time in Paris earlier this month, after helping guide Les Parisiens to their first-ever Champions League triumph.

A lot of history between PSG and Barcelona 🔴🔵 pic.twitter.com/E9ixwXy9WD
— Ligue 1 English (@Ligue1_ENG) March 15, 2024

Neymar, Zlatan Ibrahimovic, Mikel Arteta, Dani Alves... the list of players to represent the two clubs goes on and on, and it is a star-studded list, too, full of greats that have defined world football in the 21st century.

But it isn't just players, but a certain manager, too. Dembélé wasn't the only player celebrated in Paris last week. At the same awards, Luis Enrique was named the best manager in world football. That achievement was recognition for leading PSG to their first-ever UCL win last season, as well as ensuring triumphs in Ligue 1 McDonald's, the Coupe de France, and the Trophée des Champions.

'La Remontada' and an iconic encounter

But PSG and Barcelona don't just share iconic players and managers; they also partook in one of the greatest games in Champions League history.

Remontada has become part of the football vernacular in recent years, and it is thanks to a meeting between these pair. It was eight years ago that Barca overturned a 4-0 defeat at the Parc des Princes, beating Les Parisiens 6-1 at the Nou Camp. Even in the 87th minute of that tie, with Barcelona 5-3 down on aggregate, the game looked well beyond them. But a Neymar brace, followed by a Sergi Roberto winner in the 95th minute, sealed the win for the home side and capped one of the all-time great comebacks.

In more recent times, it has been PSG who have had the edge, beating their Spanish opponents in the Round of 16 in 2021 (5-2 on aggregate) and in the quarter-finals (6-4) back in 2024.

PSG and Barcelona are an iconic pairing, and they will write the next chapter in their rich shared history, under the lights of the Montjuic Stadium on Wednesday night.

>> PSG bounce back from Marseille defeat with win over Auxerre to return top of Ligue 1 McDonald's