Paris is the capital city of France, and football is one of the most popular sports in the city.

Regarding performance and success recorded by clubs from the city, Paris Saint-Germain and Red Star are the two notable names. The French Ligue 1 champions are currently regarded as one of the most popular football teams worldwide.

The club’s current level at the international scene could be credited with the signing of top players like Neymar Jr, Kylian Mbappé, Keylor Navas, Marquinhos, Ángel Di María, Marco Verratti, etc.

Although PSG appears to be the only club making headlines, there are clubs like CA Paris and Red Star with a high reputation in French football.

In Paris, football attracts top-level participation, spectators, and media coverage across the city.

The Stade de France hosts the French Men’s National Team known as the Les Bleus. The stadium also hosts top domestic finals like the Coupe de France.

Here are the football teams in Paris

1. Paris Saint-Germain

Paris Saint-Germain is the number one Paris-based team having some of the biggest names in world football, including the likes of Lionel Messi, Sergio Ramos, Kylian Mbappé, and Neymar. It is the most popular football club in France and one of the most widely supported worldwide.

Competing in the highest level of football in France, PSG has won over 40 official trophies, including the Ligue 1, Coupe de France, and Coupe de la Ligue Trophée des Champions.

Paris Saint-Germain rivalry

Paris Saint-Germain vs Olympique de Marseille – Le Classique

Paris Saint-Germain contests the Le Classique with Olympique Marseille, which is currently the biggest football rivalry in France.

Paris Saint-Germain vs AS Monaco

The clash between the two sides is a newly formed rivalry. PSG boasts some of the best players in the division, while Monaco is known for its youthful squad.

Read: The biggest soccer derby in France

PSG leads as the most successful team in France with over 40 official trophies, even though they’ve yet to win the Champions League.

PSG Ligue 1

1985 to 1994

The Red and Blue had their first Ligue 1 in 1985–86, then as Division 1. However, they could not build on the 1986 success at the national level and had to wait for another eight years for their second league crown in 1993–94.

At some point in the club’s history, they played in the French Ligue 2.

2002 to 2012 – New Ligue 1 era

After the rebranding of the French Division 1 as Ligue 1, the giants were already facing another turbulent phase in their history.

2011-present

Paris Saint-Germain was revived following heavy investment in the club, leading to numerous trophies, including the Ligue 1, Coupe de France, Coupe de la Ligue, and Trophée des Champions.

In 2020, the club qualified for the UEFA Champions League final but ultimately lost to German giants Bayern Munich.

Also Read: Biggest soccer teams in Germany

PSG is currently the only first French football club to win the domestic treble and the domestic quadruple on four different occasions.

PSG Coupe de France

Paris Saint-Germain are record Coupe de France winners with 13 titles. They won their first title in 1981–82 and successfully defended it the following year in 1982–83.

Despite Olympique Lyonnais’s dominance in the early 2000s, the Red and Blue won two Cup titles in 2003–04 and 2005–06.

PSG International performance

PSG and Marseille are the only two teams from France to have won a major European trophy.

The ‘Les Parisiens’ won the 1995–96 UEFA Cup Winners’ Cup.

Some famous PSG players in history 

• Keylor Navas

Navas is a Costa Rican goalkeeper best known for his remarkable saves that helped his country advance to the knockout stages of the fairytale World Cup in Brazil.

• Neymar Jr

Neymar, without a doubt, is among the top five most talented footballers in the modern era. The Brazilian is known for his versatility and ability to dribble past opponents to create spaces for goal-scoring.

Neymar played for Brazilian giants Santos FC before moving to FC Barcelona. Paris Saint-Germain broke the world transfer record fee of €222 million for Neymar Jr.

• Lionel Messi

Without a doubt, Messi is among the top two best footballers of the modern era, along with Portuguese attacker Cristiano Ronaldo.

Messi has spent most of his career at FC Barcelona since moving from his boyhood club Newell’s Old Boys in Argentina.

Read: Lionel Messi Ballon d’Or Or years and age 

• Kylian Mbappé

Kylian Mbappé is currently one of the best young players in the world. The French attacker has already won major trophies, including the FIFA World Cup with France, the Ligue 1, Coupe de France, the Nations League, etc.

Kylian is currently one of the most outstanding players in Europe. The player consistently make him one of the most talked-about players on the planet.

• Sergio Ramos

Real Madrid legend Sergio Ramos moved to France following the expiration of his contract with the Los Blancos.

Ramos is expected to continue with the impressive form at Real Madrid in France even as the most popular football club in the country continues with the chase for a Champions League title.

2. Red Star F.C

Red Star is a French professional football club based in Paris that competes in the Championnat National, the French second tier.

It is the fourth oldest football club in France after Standard AC of Paris, Le Havre AC, and Girondins de Bordeaux.

The club has a rich history regarding the domestic scene, winning five Coupe de France titles.

Red Star is one of the founding members of the current French Ligue 1 and has spent 19 seasons in the first division.

3. Paris FC

Paris Football Club is a professional football club based in Paris and competes in the Ligue 2, France’s second tier. The club has spent most seasons in the lower divisions even though the club’s performance lately appears to be on the rise.

4. Racing Club de France 

Racing Club de France Football is a multi-sports club and is one of the oldest in the country. Founded in 1882, Racing Club de France was a founding member of Ligue 1 and won the title once in the 1935–36 season.

Other Paris soccer teams

• CA Paris-Charenton
• US Créteil-Lusitanos
• AC Boulogne-Billancourt
• FCM Aubervilliers
• Entente SSG
• Stade Français
• Standard Athletic Club
• US Suisse Paris

Football and sports culture in Paris

In Paris, football or soccer remains unchallenged as the most popular sport. Three of the most popular sports teams in Paris are Paris Saint-Germain F.C. (football), Stade Français, and Racing 92 (rugby union).

The famous city has hosted notable competitions like the 1998 FIFA World Cup.

Paris Saint-Germain, on the other hand, has also attracted some of the biggest football clubs in the world, including Real Madrid, Barcelona, and Manchester United, to the city.

Another aspect that makes the city a unique and attractive destination for sporting activities is the availability of modern facilities.

For instance, the Stade de France, located in Saint-Denis, a Parisian suburb, serves as France’s national stadium for friendlies and major tournament qualifiers like World Cup and European Championship.

Paris soccer team’s popularity

Paris Saint-Germain remains the most popular football club in France and one of the most widely supported worldwide.

Other teams like Red Star, Paris FC, and Racing Club de France Football boast minor followers within and outside the city.

Paris soccer teams’ Rivalry

The 21st century is yet to witness a top-level derby in Paris as most teams play in the second and third division, leaving Paris Saint-Germain as the only team in the Ligue 1.

In the past, PSG used to compete in a local derby with Racing Paris in the 1989–90 season in the French Division 1. These days, the local derby is between Créteil, Paris FC, and Red Star in the lower divisions