Khvicha Kvaratskhelia Will Not Win the 2026 Ballon d'Or — But He Remains the Best Player on the Planet

PSG Retain Super Cup as Kvaratskhelia Shines Again

Paris Saint-Germain claimed the UEFA Super Cup on Wednesday night, defeating Aston Villa 2-1 at the Stadion Salzburg in Austria. While Unai Emery's depleted Villa side — led by an impressive performance from 17-year-old Brian Madjo — pushed PSG hard, the French champions were ultimately carried by one man: Khvicha Kvaratskhelia.

The Georgian international broke the deadlock in the 20th minute, receiving a pass from Desire Doue on the far side of the box. He beat Matty Cash with two quick touches before firing a powerful right-footed strike past Villa goalkeeper Marco Bizot.

Kvaratskhelia was a persistent threat throughout the match, finishing his 88 minutes on the pitch with three successful take-ons, three shots, five duel wins, and nine penalty area touches.

A Rapid Rise Since 2022

Kvaratskhelia joined Napoli from Dinamo Batumi for just €12 million in the summer of 2022. He quickly became a key figure in Italian football, contributing to 25 goal involvements in 34 appearances as Napoli won their first Scudetto in 33 years — a campaign that earned him the Serie A Most Valuable Player award and the Champions League Young Player of the Season honour.

Former Napoli manager Luciano Spalletti once described him as a "delicious" footballer, capturing the flair that made him a fan favourite, nicknamed "Kvaradona" in tribute to club legend Diego Maradona.

The Move to PSG

In January 2025, PSG signed Kvaratskhelia for €70 million (£60m/$81m). He completed an attacking quartet alongside Ousmane Dembele, Desire Doue, and Bradley Barcola, helping Luis Enrique's side win their first-ever European Cup.

A Historic Champions League Campaign

Last season, PSG became only the second team to retain the Champions League since its 1992 rebranding. Kvaratskhelia recorded 17 goal involvements in 16 appearances and became the first player to register a goal or assist in seven consecutive knockout matches in a single campaign.

His contribution was pivotal in the final against Arsenal, where he won the penalty that led to Dembele's equaliser, and in a memorable semi-final first leg against Bayern Munich, where he scored twice in a 5-4 victory at the Parc des Princes.

Reflecting on his performances, four-time Champions League winner Clarence Seedorf, speaking as a pundit for Amazon Prime Video, praised Kvaratskhelia's game intelligence and versatility, describing him as an exceptional talent capable of influencing matches from multiple positions on the pitch.

His standout campaign was formally recognised when the UEFA Technical Observer Group — including figures such as Claude Makelele, Ole Gunnar Solskjaer, Sir Gareth Southgate, and Rafa Benitez — named him the Champions League Player of the Season for 2025-26.

Ballon d'Or Chances Remain Slim

Despite his European exploits, Kvaratskhelia is not considered a leading contender for this year's Ballon d'Or. Rotated regularly by Luis Enrique to manage his workload, he made only 20 Ligue 1 starts, registering a modest 12 goals and assists combined in domestic competition, even as PSG secured a fifth consecutive league title.

Georgia's failure to qualify for the World Cup playoffs also denied him a platform to showcase his talent on the international stage, unlike rivals such as Kylian Mbappe, Lionel Messi, Erling Haaland, Harry Kane, and Rodri, who all enjoyed prominent tournament and club campaigns.

While the Ballon d'Or voting process traditionally favours statistical output, Kvaratskhelia's technical quality and consistency in the Champions League continue to draw comparisons to some of the finest wingers in the modern game.