Prominent French journalist Dominique Severac has championed PSG winger Khvicha Kvaratskhelia as the rightful recipient of the 2026 Ballon d’Or. Severac contends that the former Napoli star’s individual brilliance outweighs the fact that Georgia will miss the upcoming 48-team World Cup. Despite an impressive continental campaign featuring 10 goals and six assists in the Champions League, the winger will remain on the sidelines this summer after Georgia failed to navigate a qualifying group containing Spain and Turkey.
Severac argues that Kvaratskhelia’s domestic and European impact makes him the season’s standout performer, regardless of international participation.
“Kvaratskhelia would have very little chance of participating in the World Cup. It will be 48 teams for the first time this summer, and Georgia did not qualify, with Spain and Turkey in its group,” Severac said, as quoted by Le Parisien. “Kvara overperforms with Georgia, which does not yet have enough talent to qualify for the World Cup. In any case, Kvaratskhelia deserves the 2026 Ballon d’Or, without waiting for the World Cup verdict. If Michael Olise has been the most consistent player of the season, the most impactful is the Parisian winger.”
