PSG and Portugal: A special connection
With four Portugese players regularly in the first team, Paris Saint-Germain have a special connection to the country. Ahead of tomorrow's Champions League clash against Sporting Club, we take a closer look at that story, past and present.
Hugo Leal 2001-4
While not the first Portuguese player of note to join the capital side, Leal was vital in establishing a connection between the Primeira Liga and France, becoming a trailblazer for the likes of Licha Lopez, Lucho Gonzalez, his future club teammate Pauleta and others. A serious knee injury would curtail his time in Paris, but over the course of his three seasons, he would help the club win the Intertoto Cup and reach two Coupe de France finals.
Pauleta 2003-8
If Leal made an impact with Paris Saint-Germain, the Azores-born Pauleta became a hero for the capital side. Arguably as important as any player before the team's Qatari takeover, he made his name in France with three seasons in Bordeaux before decamping to Paris in 2003. Winning the Coupe de France twice, as well as the Coupe de la Ligue, he left five seasons later as their all-time leading scorer, having captained the team in his last two season there.
🔙 On This Day - July 10, 2003
Pedro Miguel Pauleta joined Paris Saint-Germain! ❤️💙
The rest is history 🦅🎞️ pic.twitter.com/YVDzyR07Fg— Paris Saint-Germain (@PSG_English) July 10, 2025
Danilo Pereira 2020-24
Sometimes maligned for his lack of pace, the big defender/midfielder was nevertheless a key part of no less than seven trophies. Playing more than 150 matches over four seasons, the Benfica academy graduate's versatility, physicality and aerial prowess proved vital throughout his spell with the club, as did his leadership, having been elected vice-captain for his final season.
Nuno Mendes 2021-
The first of the current crop of Portuguese players to have joined the club, Mendes arrived from tomorrow's opponents, Sporting Club, in the summer of 2021. A raw but precocious talent with searing pace, Mendes has struggled with injury at times, including missing most of the 2023/24 season, but especially under Luis Enrique, has matured into becoming a player most would consider the best left back in the world.
Vitinha 2022-
Hailing from the city of Aves in northern Portugal, Vitinha came through Porto's academy and was seen as something of a surprise signing by PSG when he arrived for a fee north of €40M. His first season was marred by inconsistency and reported friction between he and Lionel Messi, but like Mendes, he has blossomed under Enrique to become a complete midfielder. After finishing third in the Ballon d'Or last year, he has gone from strength to strength in the current campaign, with a hat trick in the Champions League against Tottenham one of many highlights.
Vitinha adds to the trophy-to-head legacy 🔥🏆 pic.twitter.com/4XlwumiS2s
— Ligue 1 English (@Ligue1_ENG) January 13, 2026
Gonçalo Ramos 2023-
A consistent scorer for club and country, despite seeing his chances limited by the likes of first Kylian Mbappé and more recently Ousmane Dembélé with PSG, Ramos has been the perfect player for PSG. While rarely a starter, he has consistently come up with goals off the bench, particularly when the chips are down. Stoppage-time strikes against Marseille, Nice and Tottenham have been vital to PSG's season to date, and his predatory presence allow the capital side to turn matches in an instant.
João Neves 2024-
Still incredibly only 21, Neves has been a revelation since arriving in Paris from Benfica. Despite his young age, he wasted no time in establishing himself in the first team under Enrique, his preternatural composure, range of passing and ability on the ball impressing at every turn. Despite struggles with injury earlier this season, he has returned at the top of his game, and is a first-choice presence in midfield.
