The summer was billed as a World Cup extravaganza, a stage where the globe's brightest football talents would dazzle fans. While the tournament indeed produced its share of unforgettable moments, the spotlight is now shifting back to club football, and with it, the UEFA Super Cup in Salzburg offers a perfect platform for Khvicha Kvaratskhelia to reclaim his place at the forefront of the sport. At 25, Kvaratskhelia entered the previous season as the Champions League Player of the Season, a distinction earned while Paris Saint‑Germain defended their title in May. Now, back in August, the Georgian winger is set on a third consecutive triumph, aiming to prove that perhaps the continent's finest player was absent from the World Cup stage.
Paris Saint‑Germain's recent European success has been punctuated by familiar faces: Marquinhos lifted the Champions League trophy twice, while Desire Doué and Vitinha each collected Man‑of‑the‑Match honors in Munich and Budapest. Ousmane Dembélé, meanwhile, was crowned Ballon d'Or winner for his pivotal role in securing that historic victory. Yet, behind these headline names lies a less‑celebrated catalyst for PSG's ascendancy – Kvaratskhelia. Signed from Napoli in January of the previous year, the Georgian's impact was immediate.
Before his arrival, PSG's European outings had often felt under‑whelming, as if a missing piece prevented the squad from clicking. Kvaratskhelia's arrival transformed the team into a high‑pressing, fluid machine. His relentless work‑rate and inventive play not only suited Luis Enrique's tactical blueprint but also elevated the performances of his teammates, establishing new standards for the club's attacking line.
Aston Villa, the opponents in this season's UEFA Super Cup, are well aware of Kvaratskhelia's threat. It was his lightning‑quick footwork that unsettled Axel Disasi in the first leg of their 2025 quarter‑final, a match widely regarded as PSG's toughest test in that knockout run. The Georgian's ability to create chaos in defensive structures has become a hallmark of his game.
Last season, Kvaratskhelia continued to excel when it mattered most. From the play‑off round onward, no other player scored as many goals in the Champions League, and he also topped the assists chart for open‑play passes. This dual contribution – scoring and creating – underscores the breadth of his influence on the pitch.
His résumé extends beyond Paris. Prior to his move to PSG, Kvaratskhelia was the driving force behind Napoli's long‑awaited league title, shattering the myth that only a legend like Diego Maradona could deliver such success.
The nickname "Kvaradona" emerged as a tribute to his transformative impact on the Italian side. What makes the Georgian so fascinating is his uniqueness. In a sport where many elite players emerge from well‑structured academies – particularly in France, where a conveyor belt of talent feeds top clubs – Kvaratskhelia's path is markedly different. He hails from a country where football development is less formalized, and his style reflects a street‑football upbringing that emphasizes creativity, resilience, and raw instinct.
Former Rubin Kazan coach Leonid Slutsky summed up this rarity in a 2023 interview: "Nobody knew about him before he came to Italy, and that's understandable. I congratulate Napoli because they won the lottery." Slutsky praised Kvaratskhelia's "abnormal thinking" on the pitch, a tendency to approach situations in unconventional ways. Xisco Muñoz, who played and coached at Kvaratskhelia's former club Dinamo Tbilisi, echoed this sentiment, explaining that Georgian players often develop their skills on the streets rather than in formal training grounds.
"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 dedication stands out.
Former Georgia coach David Webb recalled how the winger was a "nightmare to get off the training ground" because of his process‑driven mindset. "He is very process‑driven. It is not something that he does for effect.
He has done it since day one," Webb said. Georgia's failure to qualify for the World Cup this summer proved to be both a curse and a blessing for Kvaratskhelia. While the nation missed out on the global showcase, the player used the interval to guide his side to Euro 2024 and later compete in the Club World Cup, granting him a rare chance to reset after a grueling season. The timing could affect his Ballon d'Or aspirations.
Historically, the award has favored players who excel in World Cup years, though there are exceptions – Kevin Keegan won the prize in a non‑World‑Cup year when England did not qualify. However, the criteria have evolved, and a stellar club season can be enough to sway voters. Looking ahead to 2026, the field of potential winners includes World Cup‑winning Spaniards and prolific scorers like Kylian Mbappé and Harry Kane, whose club and international records are impressive. Yet the UEFA Super Cup offers Kvaratskhelia a chance to reaffirm his claim as Europe's premier talent.
His individual brilliance continues to both embellish and propel the performances of what many consider the best team in Europe today. Khvicha Kvaratskhelia, the standout winger of last season's Champions League and PSG's relentless attacking force, is poised to make another statement on the continental stage. OPPO has partnered with the UEFA Champions League since 2022 and currently serves as the Official Smartphone Product Partner. Play Super 6 for a chance to win £250,000!
Enter for free.