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Who makes a Chelsea PSG all-time XI?
The Champions League round of 16 brings another continental collision between Chelsea and Paris Saint-Germain, a heavyweight tie rekindling a rivalry that has simmered since the mid-2010s.
Between them, the clubs have hoarded league titles, domestic cups and European silverware, and boasted some of the finest talents of the modern era.
But who makes a combined all-time XI? We’ve plumped for a 4-2-3-1 that squeezes brilliance, ballast and a fair bit of ego into one side.
Goalkeeper: Petr Cech
The safest pair of gloves either club has known. Cech won four Premier League titles and the 2011-12 Champions League, recording 228 clean sheets for the Blues in all competitions. His penalty shoot-out heroics in Munich remain immortal. PSG have had fine keepers; none have matched his longevity, consistency or big-game aura.
Right-back: Dani Alves
A short Paris stint (2017–2019) yielded two Ligue 1 titles and a reminder that serial winners travel well. One of the most decorated players in history with 40-plus major trophies, Alves brought swagger and surgical delivery from the right. At his peak, he redefined the position.
Centre-back: John Terry
Mr Chelsea. Five Premier League titles, five FA Cups and that long-awaited Champions League triumph in 2012. Terry marshalled defences with snarl and authority, chipping in 67 goals for the club. Love him or loathe him, he is the defining defender of Chelsea’s modern era.
Centre-back: Thiago Silva
Silva straddles both institutions with elegance. Seven Ligue 1 titles in Paris, then the defensive lynchpin of Chelsea’s 2021 Champions League win. Even into his late 30s he read the game like yesterday’s newspaper, blending leadership with composure.
Left-back: Ashley Cole
Signed to silence doubters, Cole became arguably England’s finest left-back. A three-time Premier League winner across his career and a European champion in 2012, he routinely shackled elite wingers on the biggest stages. Big games always brought out his best.
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Central midfield: Claude Makelele
So influential they named the role after him. Two Premier League titles in West London, and the metronomic shield that allowed artists to flourish. Remembered best for redefining the role of the deep central midfielder at Real Madrid and Chelsea, the French icon finished his career with PSG.
Central midfield: Frank Lampard
His 211 goals for Chelsea tell only half the story. Three league titles, four FA Cups and the Munich equaliser that kept hope alive in 2012. Lampard’s timing, durability and appetite for decisive moments make him undroppable in this line-up.
Right wing: Kylian Mbappe
The face of the Paris project for seven seasons, Mbappe departed in 2024 as the club’s record scorer with 256 goals in 308 appearances, winning five Ligue 1 titles and reaching the 2020 Champions League final. Devastating pace, ruthless output.
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No.10: Ronaldinho
Before Barcelona, there was Paris. Ronaldinho’s PSG years (2001–2003) were a neon-lit trailer for the genius to come. Elastic dribbles, no-look passes, impudence in human form. Every combined XI needs a little theatre.
Left wing: Eden Hazard
Two Premier League titles, two Europa Leagues and 110 goals in blue. At his best, Hazard played like the ball was magnetised to his boots. He bent matches to his will and left defenders grasping at air.
Striker: Zlatan Ibrahimovic
156 goals in 180 appearances, four straight Ligue 1 titles and a gravitational pull all his own. Ibrahimovic turned domestic dominance into an art form, scoring spectacularly and speaking even more extravagantly.
There are painful omissions – Cavani, Drogba, Neymar, Carvalho – but this XI marries silverware with stardust. If March’s meeting needs a pre-match fantasy, this is a team that would sell out any stadium in Europe.
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How to watch the Champions League in the USA on DAZN
Soccer fans in the US can watch the Champions League in Spanish language as part of their DAZN subscription package.
An annual upfront payment is $224.99 , while paying monthly for 12 months is $19.99 and also provides access to 185 fight nights a year across boxing, MMA, PFL, BKFC, Glory and much more.
CBS has coverage of every Champions League match in English language this season. You can get more details and subscribe to CBS's Champions League coverage here.
Fans can watch extra Champions League games in Spanish on ViX. A selection of those matches are also available on UNIMÁS and TUDN.
How to watch the Champions League in New Zealand on DAZN
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An annual subscription costs $14.99 per month for 12 months and also provides access to 185 fight nights a year across boxing, MMA, PFL, BKFC, Glory and much more.
How to watch the Champions League in Canada on DAZN
Watch every game of the Champions League this season in Canada with a DAZN subscription.
There are three subscription options, each offering a different selection of sports. Access to every Champions League match is included in all three package offerings, ranging from $29.99 to $44.99 per month (for 12 months)
