In 2011, Paris Saint-Germain was far from the elite club it is today. Struggling on the pitch and in the boardroom, it stood as a sleeping giant—until Qatar Sports Investments quietly stepped in with a bold vision and deep pockets.

What seemed like a low-profile transaction at the time would spark one of the most dramatic transformations in European soccer. With Qatar’s entry, the club’s ambitions shifted overnight—from local dominance to continental glory.

This wasn’t just a purchase; it was the beginning of a global branding project backed by state wealth. The figures behind the deal may surprise, especially considering what came next: record signings, superstar power and a new era.

How much did it cost QSI to buy PSG?

Qatar Sports Investments (QSI) spent approximately €100 million to acquire Paris Saint-Germain, buying 70% of the club in 2011 for around €70 million and the remaining 30% in 2012 for about €30 million.

When QSI made its move to purchase, the club was far from the European superpower it is today. PSG was a team with a loyal fanbase and a storied past, but limited success on the field and financial struggles behind the scenes.

The first 70% was acquired in June 2011 from American investors Colony Capital and Butler Capital Partners. Several months later, in March 2012, QSI completed the buyout by purchasing the remaining 30% for an additional €30 million, according to The Guardian.

Nasser Al-Khelaifi, a key figure in Qatari sports diplomacy and a close associate of the emir of Qatar, was installed as club president shortly after and quickly became the public face of the new PSG era.

The significance of the purchase went far beyond numbers. Backed by Qatar’s sovereign wealth, QSI wasn’t just acquiring a soccer club—it was investing in a global soft power project. Since then, PSG has become one of the wealthiest and most recognizable sports brands in the world.

From record-breaking transfers to high-profile sponsorships and unprecedented global reach, the club’s trajectory has been meteoric. What started as a €100 million deal quietly signed behind closed doors would come to redefine European soccer itself.

Nasser Al-Khelaifi has become one of the most influential figures in soccer since taking over as chairman of Paris Saint-Germain in 2011. His vision and leadership have propelled the club to new heights, both on and off the pitch.

His influence goes beyond soccer, spanning various sectors tied to sports and media. These expanding ventures have helped him build a vast network of business interests and grow his international profile.

With a net worth estimated in the billions, his financial success reflects a blend of savvy business acumen and strategic positioning. His story is as much about sports dominance as it is about global entrepreneurship and power.

What is Nasser Al-Khelaifi’s net worth?

Nasser Al-Khelaifi, the influential Qatari businessman and sports executive, has amassed significant wealth through his leadership roles in various sectors. As of 2025, his net worth is estimated to be $10.4 billion, according to Forbes.

This fortune stems from his positions as chairman of beIN Media Group, chairman of Qatar Sports Investments and president of Paris Saint-Germain. His strategic investments and leadership have solidified his status as a prominent figure in global sports and media industries.

Nasser Al-Khelaifi’s investments

As chairman of Qatar Sports Investments (QSI), Nasser Al-Khelaifi oversees a powerful sovereign wealth fund that has poured billions into sports properties, most notably Paris Saint-Germain.

Since acquiring PSG in 2011, QSI has invested heavily in transforming the club into a soccer powerhouse, including high-profile player acquisitions and infrastructure development.

Beyond soccer, he chairs the beIN Media Group, a global sports and entertainment network broadcasting across more than 40 countries. This media empire has grown into a key player in sports broadcasting rights and content distribution, making it a vital asset in his portfolio.

He also holds significant influence in international sports governance, serving as chairman of the European Club Association and a member of UEFA’s executive committee. These positions further amplify his ability to shape the sports industry on a global scale.

Not only the fans, but also the French media was harsh on the 8x Ballon d’Or winner, a relationship that only got worse after Argentina beat France in the 2022 World Cup final in Qatar.

While PSG paid a tribute to the 36-year-old in his return to practice, Leo never got a recognition at the Parc des Princes. In a recent appearance of the ‘Rothen s’enflamme’ show of RMC Sport, PSG president Nasser Al-Khelaifi explained the club thought such a tribute would backfire for the Argentine star.

“We are in France. He won against Kylian (Mbappe) and it’s a French club. I didn’t want the whole stadium to whistle against him,” Khelaifi said.

Messi had taken a dig at PSG over lack of World Cup tribute

Even though he got a little tribute before his first practice back from Qatar, it looks like that wasn’t enough for Messi to consider it a proper celebration by the club, claiming he was “the only player of the entire Argentine national team that his club did not recognize“.

Al-Khelaifi had already reacted to Messi’s comments, denying PSG didn’t honor his World Cup victory. “As everyone saw, because we even published a video, we celebrated Messi in training, and we also celebrated him in private,” Al-Khelaifi told RMC Sport in September 2023. “But with respect, we are a French club. Of course it was sensitive to celebrate in the stadium. We have to respect the country he defeated, his French teammates, and our supporters too.”

After a two-year stint in Paris, Messi packed his bags in July 2023, leaving for MLS side Inter Miami as a free agent. Since then, he made it clear he feels much happier in South Florida than in the French capital.

“I have great respect for him, but someone talks badly about PSG, that’s not good, that’s not what respect is,” Al-Khelaifi said in regard to Messi’s several comments on his difficult moments at PSG. “He’s not a bad boy, but I don’t like it. I want any player to speak when he’s there. Not when he’s gone. That’s not our style.”

PSG president Nasser Al-Khelaifi, in fact, believes the French striker should win the 2023 Ballon d’Or. “We have the best player in the world and for me, he deserves the Ballon d’Or,” he told Le Parisien.

Mbappe is on the 30-man shortlist along with Messi, who is a strong candidate to take home his eighth award. Erling Haaland, who won the treble with Manchester City last season, is also in contention.

Who are the 30 nominees for the 2023 Ballon d’Or?

1. Josko Gvardiol (Leipzig / Manchester City)
2. Andre Onana (Inter Milan / Manchester United)
3. Karim Benzema (Real Madrid / Al-Ittihad)
4. Mohamed Salah (Liverpool)
5. Jamal Musiala (Bayern Munich)
6. Randal Kolo Muani (Frankfurt / PSG)
7. Jude Bellingham (Dortmund / Real Madrid)
8. Emiliano Martinez (Aston Villa)
9. Ruben Dias (Manchester City)
10. Nicolo Barella (Inter Milan)
11. Yassine Bounou (Sevilla / Al-Hilal)
12. Bukayo Saka (Arsenal)
13. Martin Odegaard (Arsenal)
14. Antoine Griezmann (Atletico Madrid)
15. Lautaro Martinez (Inter Milan)
16. Khvicha Kvaratskhelia (Napoli)
17. Bernardo Silva (Manchester City)
18. Robert Lewandowski (Barcelona)
19. Kim Min-Jae (Napoli / Bayern Munich)
20. Luka Modric (Real Madrid)
21. Julian Alvarez (Manchester City)
22. Victor Osimhen (Napoli)
23. Ilkay Gundogan (Manchester City / Barcelona)
24. Rodri (Manchester City)
25. Kevin De Bruyne (Manchester City)
26. Vinicius Junior (Real Madrid)
27. Harry Kane (Tottenham / Bayern Munich)
28. Kylian Mbappe (PSG)
29. Erling Haaland (Manchester City)
30. Lionel Messi (PSG / Inter Miami)

When is the 2023 Ballon d’Or taking place?

The 2023 Ballon d’Or gala will take place on Monday, October 30 at Théâtre du Châtelet in Paris, France.

However, continental glory continues to be elusive for Paris Saint-Germain. But the outlook is even worse for the French club now, with the Argentine superstar gone and the French striker reportedly on his way out too.

Messi will play for MLS side Inter Miami after deciding not to renew his contract in Paris, while Mbappe could be sold before he becomes a free agent in 2024. Al-Khelaifi doesn’t seem to be angry at Messi, though.

Nasser Al-Khelaifi calls Messi the world’s best player

“I also want to thank Lionel Messi, the best player in the world, in the history of football, with whom we spent two magnificent years,” Al Khelaifi said in a press conference in which Luis Enrique was presented as the new PSG manager.

While his message shows gratitude for the Argentine player’s services in the last two seasons, it may also hide a subtle jab at Mbappe. After all, he’s calling Messi the best player on Earth over the current PSG star.

There’s no way to know, but maybe this could have been different if Mbappe hadn’t put his future in doubt. Either way, Al-Khelaifi addressed the forward’s future, giving him an ultimatum to make a decision.

The World Cup champion was expected to head Paris Saint-Germain with other superstars like the Brazilian, as well as Kylian Mbappe, and Sergio Ramos. The UEFA Champions League was where they really bombed out, however, eventually losing to teams like Real Madrid and Bayern on their mission to the Final.

Performances were consistently inconsistent even in the French league when the Parisians had little trouble hoisting the trophy. Now, even though the 36-year-old is excited to begin a new chapter with the United States, he hasn’t forgotten about his South American buddy and ex-teammate.

Why did Lionel Messi give up on PSG’s award?

According to French outlet Le Parisien, before Lionel Messi’s farewell game for Paris Saint-Germain, the club president Nasser Al-Khelaifi presented him with a commemorative trophy. The Argentine forward has now promptly given the trophy to his former colleague, Neymar.

Club president Al-Khelaifi presented Messi with a gilded number 30 trophy before the game in honor of the jersey he wore for two years. Even after leaving this summer, Sergio Ramos was awarded a similar trophy for his time with the club.

However, Neymar was the lucky recipient of this award. The Brazil international is auctioning off the award to raise money for his charity organization, which provides aid to underprivileged kids.

The Paris club’s biggest attention and prize is the UEFA Champions League where PSG will play the round of 16 against Bayern Munich in an epic showdown. President of PSG Nasser Al-Khelaifi spoke to Sky Sports, and he has one English player on his mind.

PSG was once interested in Cristiano Ronaldo, but as per Al-Khelaifi the club has their sights on many young players one is a current English national team player that could connect all the dots.

PSG interested in Jude Bellingham

When asked by Sky Sports about Jude Bellingham, Nasser Al-Khelaifi responded, that his club was “not going to hide” their interest in the England star. “What a player. Honestly, England are lucky to have him … and he’s one of the best players in the tournament… Amazing and you see his first World Cup — calm and relaxed and confident…Everyone wants him. I’m not going to hide it. But I respect he’s in his club and, respect if we want to talk to him, we talk to the club first.”

Bellingham has interest from Liverpool, Chelsea, Manchester United, Manchester City and Real Madrid. The Borussia Dortmund star would almost certainly command a transfer fee in the $100 million range, the 19-year-old has a contract until 2025.

Bellingham has been pivotal for England during the World Cup, scoring his first goal in his 18th cap against Iran at Qatar 2022.

It’s no secret that all the signings Paris Saint-Germain have pulled off over the last few years – and especially last summer – were related to their European ambitions, despite neither of them has been enough to achieve that goal so far.

However, the Champions League is still on the mind of PSGpresident Nasser Al-Khelaifi, as he not only remains hopeful of seeing his club succeed but also wants the European tournament to become more like the NFL’s Super Bowl or American sports in general.

Nasser Al-Khelaifi suggests how the Champions League could be more attractive

“I can’t understand how the Super Bowl (might seem) bigger than the Champions League final,” Al-Khelaifi told The Athletic. “The Super Bowl, and the United States in general, has this spirit, this creativity and this sense of entertainment.

“I’ve suggested that we have a Champions League opening ceremony and have a game on an opening night where the previous winners face a big team. It might not be a good idea, but at least let’s challenge the status quo. Each game should be an event and entertainment.”

These kinds of ideas are often criticized in world soccer as many people prefer to preserve tradition rather than turnthese events into an entertainment. However, some decisions – like the pre-game show in the Champions League final – already point inthat direction.It remains to be seen whether there will be more such changes.

PSG were leading 2-0 on aggregate until a terrible mistake at the back propelled the hosts to a memorable comeback. Gianluigi Donnarumma was in the eye of the storm for conceding the ball that set up Karim Benzema‘s first goal of the night.

However, the French club’s leaders – as well as Mauricio Pochettino – felt that goal should have been ruled out forfoul from Benzema to the goalkeeper. That’s why at the end of the game, Nasser Al-Khelaifi and Leonardo have reportedlygone to the referee’s dressing roomto aggresively complain about that situation.

L’Equipe: UEFA to open disciplinary proceedings against PSG’s Al-Khelaifi, Leonardo

According to L’Equipe, UEFA will open disciplinary proceedings against the PSG President and the sporting director for their behavior after the final whistle. “Adisciplinary case has been opened against Nasser al-Khelaïfi and Leonardo (president and sports director of PSG, respectively) and more generally against the Parisian club,”the French outlet quoted.

Article 11 of theUEFA Disciplinary Regulations providessanctions for those who breach the “General Principles of Conduct,” including one who “behaves in an insulting way or otherwise contravenes the elementary rules of propriety.”Meanwhile, article 15condemnes the “incorrect behavior of players and officials,” with suspensions and fines for the infringers.

Article 44 claims that “any means of evidence may be used during the investigation and the disciplinary procedure, subject to respect for human dignity.” This includes official reports, testimonies, video recordings, among other sources ordocuments. It has been reported that a member of the Real Madrid squad was recording when Al-Khelaifi went to complain to the referee, so in case that video exists, it can be used in the investigation. It’s understood that UEFA’s disciplinary committee will take into account the official’s report and any images that could be provided from the situation.