Paris Saint-Germain forward Khvicha Kvaratskhelia has described his inclusion among the 30 contenders for the 2026 Ballon d’Or as a huge honour, saying he is already proud of what he has achieved over the past year.
The Georgia international enters the prestigious individual award race after a remarkable 2025/26 campaign in which he played a major role in Paris Saint-Germain’s success and was named the Champions League Player of the Season.
Rather than focusing solely on winning the award, however, Kvaratskhelia said simply being mentioned alongside some of the biggest names in world football was already something special.
“To be a Ballon d’Or contender, it’s already a pleasure to be among these players in the race,” the 25-year-old said.
“I feel already that I did something special in the last year, I’m really happy and let’s see what’s gonna happen.”
Kvaratskhelia’s nomination represents another significant moment in the rapid rise of a player who has become one of the most recognisable footballers to emerge from Georgia.
His journey has attracted particular attention because of the country he represents. Georgia is a relatively small football nation, but Kvaratskhelia has established himself on some of the biggest stages in European football, giving young supporters in his homeland a player of their own to follow at the highest level.
The PSG star said that was one of the aspects of his nomination that made him especially proud.
“I’m happy that I represent Georgia, a small country,” he said. “Little kids, they know that even if they are from a small country, they can achieve these things.”
Kvaratskhelia’s comments underline how much his success has come to mean beyond his performances for PSG.
His nomination followed a season in which Paris Saint-Germain enjoyed an outstanding campaign domestically and in Europe. The Georgian winger was particularly influential in the Champions League, where his performances earned him the competition’s Player of the Season award.
PSG’s success also placed a large number of their players among the Ballon d’Or nominees, with the French and European champions having 10 players included on the 30-man shortlist. Kvaratskhelia is therefore competing alongside several of his own teammates for the individual honour.
That competition has not stopped the Georgian from appreciating the significance of his own nomination.
Instead, he appears determined to enjoy the moment while allowing the final decision to take its course.
The Ballon d’Or ceremony is scheduled to take place in London on October 26, when the winner of the prestigious award will be announced.
Kvaratskhelia was also asked about comparisons between himself and Northern Ireland football legend George Best, who won the Ballon d’Or in 1968 after helping Manchester United achieve European success.
The comparison is one Kvaratskhelia accepts with pride, although he was quick to acknowledge the extraordinary status of Best in football history.
“Some people a long time ago told me even when I played it seems like him,” Kvaratskhelia said.
“I’m not sure because he was one of the best in football history and the comparison is a pleasure and I’m proud.”
The comments come as Kvaratskhelia prepares for another international assignment with Georgia. His country is set to face Northern Ireland in the Nations League, meaning he could come up against a team whose football history is closely associated with the player to whom he has been compared.
Northern Ireland manager Michael O’Neill has also acknowledged Kvaratskhelia’s quality, describing him as a world-class player and noting the importance of limiting his influence during the match.
For Georgia, Kvaratskhelia’s emergence represents more than the rise of another talented footballer. His presence on the Ballon d’Or shortlist offers young players in the country a reminder that football’s biggest individual stage is not reserved for stars from the traditional European powerhouses.
Kvaratskhelia has already reached a level that few Georgian footballers have experienced, and his nomination gives him an opportunity to share the spotlight with some of the game’s biggest names.
Whether he eventually lifts the Ballon d’Or trophy remains to be decided.
For now, the PSG forward is simply enjoying the recognition and taking pride in the journey that brought him there.
From representing a small footballing nation to becoming a Champions League Player of the Season and now finding himself among the world’s leading Ballon d’Or contenders, Kvaratskhelia’s rise has already given Georgia another reason to dream.
And for the 25-year-old, that may be one of the most meaningful achievements of all.
