Khvicha Kvaratskhelia is not among the top contenders for the 2026 Ballon d'Or despite a stellar season with Paris Saint-Germain. The Georgian winger has been instrumental in PSG's run to a second consecutive UEFA Champions League final, but his chances are hampered by Georgia's failure to qualify for the 2026 FIFA World Cup.
Impressive Season for Kvaratskhelia
Kvaratskhelia has arguably been the best player in the 2025/26 Champions League campaign, recording 10 goals and six assists in 15 matches to help PSG reach the final. After providing the assist for the decisive goal against Bayern Munich, he said: "Very happy we're in the final. We know it will be difficult against Arsenal. Bayern is one of the best teams right now. It was very difficult. The hardest one in the season. We showed we can play against these teams. I will give everything for this badge."
PSG are also close to retaining their Ligue 1 title, needing just one win from their remaining three matches to edge RC Lens.
Osimhen Tips Kvaratskhelia for Ballon d'Or
Victor Osimhen, Kvaratskhelia's former teammate at Napoli, has backed him to win the Ballon d'Or in the future. Osimhen told 360 Experience: "He's such an amazing player, he's a top guy. In the dressing room and on the pitch, he's that guy. When he came to Naples, I used to say, 'Inshallah, in the near future, he can win the Ballon d'Or.' He can really do that."
Why Kvaratskhelia Isn't the Favorite
Despite his performances, Kvaratskhelia is not a frontrunner for the award. Some fans speculate his hard-to-pronounce name might be a factor, but the real reason is the 2026 World Cup. Lionel Messi won the Ballon d'Or in 2023 after leading Argentina to World Cup glory, highlighting the tournament's significance.
Georgia failed to qualify for the 2026 World Cup, finishing third in Group E with just one win. This severely limits Kvaratskhelia's chances, as other favorites like Ousmane Dembele, Harry Kane, Michael Olise, and Lamine Yamal will all feature in the World Cup. An outstanding performance by any of them, combined with a strong season, could overshadow Kvaratskhelia's achievements.
Kvaratskhelia could still improve on his previous Ballon d'Or rankings of 17th in 2023 and 12th in 2025, but a top finish seems unlikely.
Updated 2026 Ballon d'Or Rankings
With PSG and Arsenal set to face off in the Champions League final, current holder Ousmane Dembele tops the favorites list. Kvaratskhelia's absence from the World Cup remains the key factor working against him.
