Paris, the city of dreams, dreams that nobody thought would look like this.
Paris Saint-Germain’s 2025 season hasn’t only surprised French football, it has rattled the whole of Europe. With nine PSG players on the shortlist for the men’s Ballon d’Or, this Parisian club has gone from being a team that “bottled it” to a team to setting standards of utter excellence. For fans and rivals and neutrals, it seems like we’re watching the beginning of something bigger: a football dynasty.
From Big-Spending Failures to Treble-Winning Giants
Only a few years ago, PSG were known for little more than heartbreak over trophies. The names were infinity like Messi, Neymar, Mbappé but the endings were always the same: European disappointment. They were the team that could pay anyone, but beat no one, when it mattered.
Then summer 2023 came and with it, Luis Enrique. No crazily spectacular unveiling, no blockbuster promises, just a manager obsessed with discipline, collective work, and detail. From a club drenched in “could haves”, he made it a team that could actually finish.
This season perfectly told the story. PSG stuttered early, ranking a lowly 26th out of 36 in the groups stage of the Champions League. But, rather than crumble, they grew. And when the knockout rounds came, they not only won, they vanquished giants: Manchester City, Liverpool, Arsenal, and more. The statement was made in the final: a breath-taking 5-0 dismantling of Inter Milan. It wasn’t merely a win. It was a warning.
The Treble That Changed Everything
The UEFA Champions League trophy was the crown jewel, but PSG did not stop there. They took Ligue 1 and the Coupe de France to land the continental treble only the second French club to do so since Marseille in 1993, and the 17th club in UEFA history.
What about Luis Enrique? He has joined Pep Guardiola in the most exclusive of football clubs; managers who have won the treble twice. And that isn’t just a stroke of luck, that is legacy.
9 PSG Superstars, 1 Ballon d’Or Record

But nothing, of course, captures PSG’s ascent quite like their Ballon d’Or shortlist. Nine Parisians about a third of the entire 30-man field are on the list. We’re talking about a type of domination that we usually associate with peak Real Madrid or Barcelona.
The list is not just full of stars, it’s deep. From Donnarumma at goalkeeper, to Hakimi and Mendes at the back, to Vitinha in midfield, and of course the youngsters like Désiré Doué and João Neves, they are already built to last.
Oh, and there’s also Ousmane Dembélé.
Dembélé’s Rise: From Fragile Talent to Ballon d’Or Favorite
Dembélé had been characterized as football’s nearly man for years brilliant bursts of talent undermined by frequent injuries and inconsistency that raised doubts about his future. Under Enrique he has confirmed beyond doubt that he is an unstoppable force.
Located in the free false-nine role, he has registered 35 goals and 16 assists in 53 matches played. Eight goals and six assists were contributed during the Champions League season; scoring in every stage, including the final. The player who was once doubted is now the favorite for the world’s biggest individual award.
Gareth Bale, the legendary former Real Madrid player, succinctly summed up every neutral’s delight so succinctly:
“If you’re winning the treble and leading the Champions League, it’s hard to see anyone else ahead of him.”
Beyond Stars: How PSG Built Europe’s New Superteam
What sets this PSG apart is it’s not only names anymore. For years, being a part of the project felt like the club was shopping for names. Now, it feels like a project. Synergy, flexibility, collective destination, it’s all here. PSG are not just competing with other heavyweight clubs from Spain and England, they are leading. And with the Ballon d’Or ceremony to take place in Paris, it may feel less like an award show and more like a coronation at home.
The Future Is Parisian
When Qatar Sports Investments purchased PSG in 2011, the aim was simple: to make Paris the capital of world football. For a decade it seemed like money couldn’t buy history.
Now, history has arrived. A treble. A record number of Ballon d’Or’s. A manager who has turned a club into a family.
The message is simple: Paris is not chasing dreams anymore. Paris is creating them.