2026 Ballon d'Or: bad news for Khvicha Kvaratskhelia

20.10.26 FT Champions League

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On Tuesday evening, Khvicha Kvaratskhelia suffered a rupture of the anterior cruciate ligament in his right knee during the clash against FC Barcelona (4-2) in the Champions League.

Khvicha Kvaratskhelia is now set for a lengthy recovery period. PSG announced on Wednesday that their Georgian forward would undergo surgery in the coming days, without specifying how long he will be unavailable.

The injury raises questions about his presence at the 2026 Ballon d'Or ceremony, which will be held in London next Monday. For now, however, PSG have declined to comment on his possible participation in the event.

Cristiano Ronaldo comforts Kvaratskhelia

Hours after the Georgian's injury, Cristiano Ronaldo sent a message of support to Khvicha Kvaratskhelia. Moved by the serious injury, the five-time Ballon d'Or winner offered him words of encouragement on social media.

“The toughest battles in football are often the ones that nobody sees. I know that feeling, Kvara. But never forget what got you this far, and don't let a difficult moment make you doubt everything you can achieve. Keep that flame burning. The best is yet to come,” CR7 wrote beneath the Georgian's Instagram post.

Read also: Ballon d’Or of All-Time: everything you need to know about the voting process

Joshua SOSSOU

Editorfr, en, ar

As a sports fan, and particularly a football fan, I've been putting my writing talent to good use for a number of years now to promote African talent and the continent's football in general. On Foot Africa, enjoy reading each of my lines.

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