Picking an All-Time Best PSG XI Using Only One Player of Each Nationality

Paris Saint-Germain have not always been France's most successful club, but they have always been among its most glamorous. 

Part of that glamour has been an ability to recruit star players from all over the world. How better to celebrate that unique aspect of the club's history than with an all-time XI?

PSG are enjoying their most successful era but selecting such an XI would not be as simple as reeling off the current side. Many great names have worn the red and blue with distinction since the club's first season in the French top flight in 1971. 

To make things even more difficult, we are limiting ourselves to a maximum of one player from each country.

Criteria

The players are sorted by the country for which they have played international football, not their country of birth. 

Thiago Motta, who was born in the Sao Paolo suburb of Sao Bernardo do Campo in Brazil, counts as an Italian player for our purposes. 

We are also held to a workable formation. Until Pep Guardiola graces the Parc des Princes dugout, there will be no 2-3-5s, and so our Paris lineup will be selected along more traditional lines.

Goalkeeper: Salvatore Sirigu, Italy 

The custodian was a vexing position to fill. In the club's history, only five non-French players have worn the No. 1 shirt. 

Former Yugoslavia international Ilija Pantelic was one of Paris' first foreign signings and spent four seasons as the first-choice goalkeeper before briefly managing the club. He was a consideration for the role, but Salvatore Sirigu's trophy haul (13 honours) puts him over the top. 

The Italian was twice named Ligue 1 Goalkeeper of the Year, and given that he was playing behind a top-class defence, that is a testament to his ability to remain focused and make crucial interventions when called upon. 

Sirigu's ignominious exit on loan to Sevilla last summer should not overshadow his contribution in the early years of the Qatar Sports Investments era. 

And after Alphonse Areola's unconvincing form this season, he could be back to add to his 205 appearances before too long.

Left-Back: Gabriel Heinze, Argentina

Gabriel Heinze made just shy of 150 appearances for the club in three impressive seasons before joining Manchester United. 

While in Paris, he broke into the Argentina national team and was instrumental in the club's 2004 Coupe de France win; a trophy that ended a six-year drought. 

He was popular among the fans, and the club even tried to bring him back to France as he struggled to find his feet in Manchester, per the Sun (h/t the Manchester Evening News). 

Although he later committed the cardinal sin of joining Olympique de Marseille, there were at least five years between his two spells in France. 

He edges out Mauricio Pochettino to represent the Albiceleste in this star-studded team.

Centre-Back: Luis Fernandez, France

The selection of the single French representative for this side was always going to be difficult. 

Jean-Marc Pilorget, the club's record-appearance holder and longest-serving player, misses out, but Luis Fernandez was a beloved captain and a legend of the first great France national team and is a deserved selection. 

Still an amateur when he made his debut, Fernandez went on to make over 300 first-team appearances, with his non-stop running and physicality making him a terrace favourite. 

His experience in midfield made him an expert in striding out of defence to kick-start attacks, and he won the league championship in 1986 as well as two Coupes de France. 

Returning as manager in 1994, Fernandez led Paris to their only European title to date, the 1996 European Cup Winners' Cup.

Centre Back: Mario Yepes, Colombia

Two factors earn Mario Yepes his place in this Paris lineup. 

First, he was a great fighter for himself and the club. He returned early from a broken leg to help PSG avoid relegation in 2007 and forced his way back into the lineup when reduced to a substitute role the following season. 

Yepes won the Coupe de France and the Coupe de la Ligue during his four seasons at the club. 

CHRISTOPHE ENA/Associated Press/Associated Press

The second factor is more prosaic. There aren't a great many centre-backs to have played regularly for PSG whose countries are not represented elsewhere in this list.

Right-Back: Gregory van der Wiel, Netherlands

Right-back has not been a position of great strength throughout the history of PSG, but Gregory van der Wiel is an exception. 

The Dutchman thrived as a marauding full-back in Paris' most dominant era. 

Never expected to do too much defensive work, Van der Wiel instead bombarded the opposition with crosses and cut them open with his surging runs from deep. 

He made 22 assists in his four seasons at the club—a fine return for a full-back—and helped the club to win an incredible 12 trophies in four seasons.

Midfield: David Beckham, England

Given that he only made 14 appearances for the club, David Beckham may seem a strange inclusion on this list. 

At second glance, though, his impact on the perception of Paris Saint-Germain makes him a worthy inclusion. His brief spell in the French capital laid key groundwork for the contemporary understanding of Paris' place in the European hierarchy.

By lending his credibility and goodwill, Beckham undermined the idea that Paris were a financially doped entity with nothing to offer football.

He helped the club win Ligue 1 and was a valuable member of the squad in the impressive Champions League quarter-final defeat against Barcelona.

Beckham helped the idea of PSG as a top European club gain credence in England and around the world.

Midfield: Rai, Brazil

Apart from France, Brazil is the most represented nation in PSG history and choosing just one of the many Selecao to have worn the red and blue is near impossible. 

Ronaldinho seems the obvious choice, but before him there was Rai. 

The original Brazilian No. 10 in the French capital, Rai's elegance and remarkable knack of arriving late from midfield made him truly special. 

Although he struggled after joining from Sao Paolo in 1993, he stayed on for four more glorious seasons and was a vital part of PSG's first golden age. 

He scored 74 goals as he helped the club to six trophies in that period. He also won the 1994 World Cup with Brazil while he was a Paris player.

JACQUES BRINON/Associated Press

Midfield: Mustapha Dahleb, Algeria

One of only six players to have made over 300 appearances for PSG, Mustapha Dahleb scored 98 goals from his attacking-midfield position. 

Apart from Eric Renaut, Dahleb was probably Paris' first legend. Joining in the first top-flight season in 1974, Dahleb was a regular starter for a decade and featured in both the 1983 and 1984 Coupe de France final victories.

Attack: Zlatan Ibrahimovic, Sweden

The simplest selection on this list, Zlatan Ibrahimovic ranks as the most dominant player in PSG history. 

The chief architect of the team's golden age and the club's record goalscorer, the Swede is peerless in Paris. 

Twelve trophies, 156 goals and 54 assists represent one unrepeatable career. 

Thibault Camus/Associated Press

Ibrahimovic is also the only Sweden international to have represented the Parisians, which made his selection on this list even easier.

Attack: Pauleta, Portugal 

Perhaps the only player who could rival Ibrahimovic as PSG's greatest player, Pedro Miguel Pauleta was named the club's greatest representative (article in French) in 2010. 

He dominated Ligue 1 like the stars of today and was the leading light in an underwhelming period for the capital club. Scoring 109 goals, Pauleta rewrote the club's record books before being eclipsed by Ibrahimovic. 

He was a PSG player while he performed at Euro 2004, starting five of Portugal's six games as the hosts reached the final before finishing runners-up to Greece.

Attack: George Weah, Liberia

Named FIFA World Player of the Year in 1995 in large part due to his magisterial performances as he led PSG to the semi-finals of the Champions League, George Weah must find a place on this list. 

The Liberian forward takes the final spot in our all-time XI, meaning that the likes of Edinson Cavani, Safet Susic and Francois M'Pele miss out. 

Each of those players scored more goals for the club, but none captured the hearts of PSG fans like Weah—nor did they produce such individual brilliance. 

Agree or disagree with our list? Enter the debate with @SamRooke89 on Twitter or add your comments below.