Football is basically a team sport. However, the role of exceptional players with tendencies to singlehandedly change the game cannot be overemphasized.
From Ronaldo De Lima, Cristiano Ronaldo, Lionel Messi, and Kylian Mbappe; the list of high-profile players with capabilities to turn things around is literally endless.
Every team want to have the best players in their team. Apart from tactics and strategy, sheer moments of brilliance by these players can go a long to tweak the trajectory of the game and by extension improve their fortunes.
But when should teams draw the balance between bucking up with superstars and focusing on teamwork and strategy?
While this article won’t attempt to settle this debate, PSG’s recent Champions League glory has, to some extent, passed a clear verdict on it.
PSG Champions League Glory: A Final Word On Stardom vs Strategy Debate
PSG won the UEFA Champions League just a season after Kylian Mbappe left the club given their dwindling fortunes on the European scene.
For over a decade, the Parisians have arguably established themselves as the powerhouse in French football, but translating this domestic dominance to the European scene was a challenge.
The closest they came to doing so was in 2018 when they lost in the final to Bayern Munich.
In a desperate attempt to end this deadlock, the club’s president Nasser Al-Khelaifi embarked on a grandiose all-star project, securing some of the finest legs in the sports to boost the team’s chances.
The hallmark of this bold move resulted in the signing of three of the best players in the world – Lionel Messi, Neymar, and Kylian Mbappe.
The trio combined to form one of the deadliest attacking trios in European football, scoring goals with ease and providing a barrage of assists.
However, it wasn’t still enough to secure the team the holy grail of the UEFA Champions League. They couldn’t even qualify for the final.
When two (Lionel Messi and Neymar) of this trio left, they reached the semifinal and when the last (Kylian Mbappe) of the trio left, they progressed to the final and won the competition in style, securing the biggest victory ever.
PSG’s Champions League triumph is not only a win for the club but for football.
From the era of ‘Galacticos’ to a ‘youth-centred project,’ with emphasis on teamwork, vigour and energetic team performance, the Parisians have finally won a trophy that has eluded them for years.
While the team’s chances in Europe can’t be categorically linked to the failure of their all-star project, it is evident that a more team-focused approach with emphasis on younger players can yield better results.
