The summer tournament was billed as a World Cup where every star would dazzle, and indeed the big names lit up the global stage. Yet the real opportunity to recapture the limelight belongs to Khvicha Kvaratskhelia, who will be back in action when the UEFA Super Cup returns to Salzburg. The Georgian winger, now 25, spent the previous season as the Champions League Player of the Season, helping Paris Saint-Germain retain their European crown in May.
As August approaches, he is poised to chase a third consecutive triumph and to remind fans that arguably the continent's finest talent missed the World Cup entirely. Paris Saint-Germain’s recent European success featured familiar faces: Marquinhos lifted the Champions League trophy twice for the club, while Desire Doue and Vitinha collected man‑of‑the‑match honors in the semi‑finals in Munich and Budapest. Ousmane Dembélé was even crowned Ballon d'Or winner for his pivotal role in securing PSG’s historic back‑to‑back titles.
Still, many analysts point to Kvaratskhelia as the true catalyst behind this emerging era of dominance. The Georgian was signed from Napoli in January of the previous year, and his impact was immediate. Before his arrival, PSG’s European outings had felt lackluster, as if a missing piece prevented the squad from reaching its full potential. Kvaratskhelia transformed the team into a relentless pressing unit.
His high‑energy, all‑action style fit perfectly with Luis Enrique’s tactical blueprint and seemed to elevate the performances of those around him. The forward line set new standards, combining speed, technical flair, and an instinctive understanding of space. This change did not go unnoticed by opponents. Aston Villa, the club that will face PSG in this season’s UEFA Super Cup, already knows the threat Kvaratskhelia poses.
In the first leg of their 2025 quarter‑final clash, his quick feet and inventive dribbling caused defender Axel Disasi to lose his composure, a moment that many consider one of PSG’s toughest tests during that knockout run. Last season, Kvaratskhelia’s influence grew even more pronounced in the latter stages of the Champions League. From the play‑off round onward, he topped the scoring charts for the competition and also recorded the highest number of open‑play assists.
Such statistics underline a body of work that is still being built. Even before his move to Paris, he had already guided Napoli to a long‑awaited league title, shattering the myth that only a legend like Diego Maradona could deliver such glory. His performances earned him the affectionate nickname "Kvaradona," a testament to his ability to change the narrative for his clubs. What makes the Georgian winger truly fascinating is his uniqueness.
He does not fit the mold of any other player in world football, either in playing style or personal journey. While many of his Paris teammates hail from the prolific French development system—benefiting from revamped academy structures and the Premier League’s global reach—Kvaratskhelia’s path is markedly different.
He emerged from the streets of Tbilisi, where football is often played in informal settings, fostering a kind of raw, instinctive talent that is difficult to teach in a classroom. Former Rubin Kazan coach Leonid Slutsky summed up the phenomenon in 2023, recalling that “nobody knew about him before he came to Italy, and that is understandable.” Slutsky even congratulated Napoli for “winning the lottery” by signing the player.
He highlighted Kvaratskhelia’s “abnormal thinking” on the pitch, a propensity to make unconventional decisions that catch opponents off guard. Xisco Muñoz, a Spaniard who played and coached at Kvaratskhelia’s former club Dinamo Tbilisi, echoed this sentiment, explaining that in Georgia football development is largely street‑based.
“In Spain we stop and pass, maybe learning on a training ground or at school,” Xisco told Sky Sports. “In Georgia, it is street talent. They have to fight and have the contact.
It is difficult to teach this in school.” Even within the national team setup, Kvaratskhelia’s work ethic stands out. Former Georgia coach David Webb described him as “a nightmare to get off the training ground,” noting that the winger is highly process‑driven and disciplined, traits that have been evident since his earliest days in professional football.
Georgia’s failure to qualify for the 2022 World Cup turned out to be both a curse and a blessing for Kvaratskhelia. While the nation missed the global showcase, the winger used the disappointment as motivation, steering his country to a respectable Euro 2024 campaign and then turning his attention to club success, including a stint at the Club World Cup last year.
That tournament offered him a rare chance to reset after a demanding season. The timing of the Super Cup could have mixed implications for his personal ambitions, particularly his Ballon d'Or aspirations. Historically, winning the award in a World Cup year has been challenging for players whose national teams did not qualify. Kevin Keegan managed to secure the prize in 1978 when England missed the tournament, but at that time only European players were eligible, and Argentina claimed the World Cup.
Looking ahead to 2026, several World Cup‑winning Spaniards will be in contention, while the club‑level exploits of Kylian Mbappé and Harry Kane remain compelling arguments for the trophy. Nonetheless, the Super Cup offers Kvaratskhelia a platform to reinforce his claim as one of Europe’s elite.
His individual qualities continue to both embellish and drive the performances of what many now consider the best team in Europe. Whether it is his blistering pace, his deft dribbling, or his uncanny ability to find space in tight areas, Kvaratskhelia consistently provides the spark that lifts PSG’s overall play.
As the club prepares for the showdown in Salzburg, the Georgian winger is eager to add another chapter to his rapidly growing legacy. Beyond the pitch, commercial partnerships are also part of the narrative. OPPO, the official smartphone partner of the UEFA Champions League since 2022, continues to support the competition and its star players, including Kvaratskhelia, through various promotional activities. Fans also have a chance to engage with the event through interactive contests such as the "Play Super 6" competition, which offers a £250,000 prize pool.
In summary, Khvicha Kvaratskhelia returns to the European spotlight at a moment when his club is poised for another historic run. Though he missed the World Cup, his performances for Paris Saint‑Germain, his unique background, and his relentless drive make him a compelling figure to watch.
The upcoming UEFA Super Cup will be his stage to reaffirm that he is, indeed, one of the continent’s finest talents, ready to lead his team to yet another triumph.