PSG ratings: Every Parisians player's performance in the 2022-23 season - ranked

Another season, another slate of injuries for the Portuguese. Of all of the midfielders signed by Galtier last summer, Sanches made the most sense. PSG needed some versatile hard workers in midfield, and Sanches is the very definition of that.

But he was never fit enough to show his quality in the position, continuing a career defined by time spent on the sidelines.

Sarabia enjoyed a successful season in Portugal last year, and earned an overdue shot at the PSG first team in 2022. But it never really worked out. More of an attacking midfielder or winger, Sarabia was asked to play in central midfield, a position he never really nailed down before joining Wolves in January.

A quality player, but clearly the wrong fit.

A fee of €20m(£17m/$21m) isn't that much these days, but still seems like a heavy investment in a player who was never right for PSG.

Soler was an interesting talent at Valencia, and a fine goalscorer in his early 20s — showing immense potential at a position of need. But he wasn't the right profile of player for the Parisians.Galtier needed a back-up No.9, not an attacking midfielder. He ended up, like Sarabia, being shoehorned into the wrong spot.

Gharbi should probably have been sent out on loan. Galtier did give the youngster a few chances, and he made a mark in a few brief cameos. but at 18, he needs to play regular football. He didn't get that this year.

He still has a lot to learn, and will hopefully develop elsewhere next season.

When fit, Kimpembe is arguably PSG's defender. However, staying on the pitch proved to be a real issue for the vice-captain this season. The centre-back only made nine Ligue 1 starts before tearing his Achilles — an injury that could keep him out for over a year.

PSG will look forward to his return, but they may have to wait until spring 2024.

It's hard not to feel sorry for Ekitike. The young Frenchman was signed on the promise that he could fill in if Messi, Neymar or Mbappe needed a rest. He also figured to be an option as a more central striker, if needed. Instead, he was moved out of position to accommodate for various members of PSG's big three.

He enjoyed a decent January, chipping in with a few goals in Messi's absence, but he might be better off somewhere else next season.

A case study for giving the kids time. Bitshiabu was forced into the XI just after the World Cup, when PSG were dealing with a litany of injuries, and needed to hand rests to individuals who had recently returned from Qatar. And the 17-year-old was excellent for a few weeks.

However, his form soon dipped, and was far too easily exploited towards the end of the campaign. Teenage centre-backs are always likely to struggle - Bithisabu needs to be given time.

Mukiele looked like a sensible transfer last summer. Capable of playing as a full-back or centre-back, he turned in a few impressive performances at both positions and was an early-season highlight in Paris.

However, he faded from the line-up in January and underwent a season-ending operation in March after repeated muscle injuries. It wasn't the debut campaign the France international would've hoped for, but there's sure to be more to come.

Vitinha had, in effect, one good month. After offering nothing of note for most of the season, the midfielder popped up with a goal against Lens, and followed it with a few solid performances. But he was otherwise a disappointment, proving an efficient passer and little else. He deserves some credit for his work rate and durability, though.

Fabian needed a few months to settle, but he just about found some of his Napoli and Real Betis form towards the end of the season. He's a confusing player; he has a wonderful left foot, and reads the game well, but is at his best when offered creative freedom — something PSG were never going to be able to give him.

The Spain international was yet another player who was misused in 2022-23, but showed signs that he could carve out a role going forward.

Bernat is very much not a starter, but embraced a peripheral role this year. He was reliable when called upon, and although he made an odd error, functioned well when supporting Mbappe on the left. Never spectacular, but always solid — exactly what was needed from a reserve left-back.

Let him play, Galtier! Zaire-Emery was an emergency option in central midfield, and impressed from the outset. The 16-year-old played far beyond his years in a series of memorable showings and became PSG's youngest-ever Ligue 1 goalscorer when he bagged the Parisians' third in a win over Montpellier in February.

But he inexplicably lost his spot in the XI towards the end of the season, before being deployed at wing-back in the final few games of the campaign — a waste.

Hakimi was as effective as advertised for most of the season. The wing-back was all legs for six months, dashing down the right and creating chances with regularity. He proved to be, in fact, PSG's best attacking player at times, especially when both Neymar and Messi were out.

However, injuries, disciplinary problems and off-field issues cut his successful campaign short.

Mr. Reliable, for the most part. Marquinhos was solid, if unspectacular for the Parisians in 2022. He made a few mistakes towards the end of the season, but that did little to take away from another admirable campaign in the French capital.

It remains to be seen how much more he can develop, but Marquinhos is now among the most successful players in the club's history, with eight Ligue 1 winner's medals.

Ramos was largely considered a failure in his first season at PSG, but turned things around over the past 12 months. He recaptured some of his old self, proving a dominant presence in the air, and reliable on the ball.

A vintage header on the final day showed he still possesses some of what once made him the best centre-back in the world. It was not enough, however, for the club to hand him a new contract. The 37-year-old will now be on the hunt for a new home, likely outside of Europe.

Despite his numerous imperfections this season, Donnarumma was still an impressive shot-stopper. The Italian was far from flawless, but his continued excellence in one-on-ones and sweeping ability saved the Parisians on a handful of occasions.

Still, his discomfort on the ball could be an issue going forward; it's one of the things a new manager might have to address.

Verratti offered much-needed continuity in central midfield. A host of new faces were awkwardly shoehorned into the middle of the park, but the Italian functioned as the constant. However, his performances weren't always up to scratch.

He made a costly error in the Champions League that saw PSG go out to a ragged Bayern Munich side, while his poor showing on the final day also contributed to an embarrassing loss to lowly Clermont Foot to round out the season.

He's still world-class on his day, but Verratti will need to be far more consistent next season.

It's hard not to feel sorry for Danilo. The Portuguese was an auxiliary player at so many positions that he never really had a chance to find rhythm anywhere. Still, he was handy all over the pitch.

At times, he was the best of PSG's rag-tag back three, and also turned in a few important showings in his more natural defensive-midfield slot. He's certainly good enough to be a regular for the Parisians, but his starting spot is far from a given with a summer of change ahead.

Ligue 1 Young Player of the Year, and, on balance, deservedly so. Mendes was excellent for long stretches and did enough to become first choice for Portugal at the World Cup — not bad for a 20-year-old.

However, injuries curtailed his campaign, and the full-back was only able to start 18 of a possible 38 matches. Tellingly, PSG were far worse without him.

How to interpret Neymar's season? For long stretches, he played some of his best football in years, and had provided 24 goal contributions in 20 games at the time of his season-ending injury. But he was the poster boy of PSG's multitude of problems this year, his inability to run often proving detrimental in big games.

Still, everything started to fall apart once he got injured — a testament to his importance. Now comes the annual dilemma as to whether to sell the Brazilian. This time, they might just do it.

Messi won't be remembered for his two seasons in Paris. The Argentine will forever be associated with Barcelona and his famous 2022 World Cup win. But that doesn't mean he was ineffective in the French capital, and this season, he found relative success.

Messi was one of only two players in Europe to tally 20 goals and 20 assists in all competitions, and some of them were absolutely spectacular. He's still one of, if not the, best in the world.

PSG endured a fairly miserable season, but Mbappe kept it from being an embarrassment. The France captain once again eclipsed 30 goals in all competitions and won his fifth-straight Golden Boot. But it was his sheer presence that meant the most.

In a season where the team fractured and results often went awry, Mbappe took charge, and, crucially, pledged that he would remain at the club for next season. The saving grace, once again.