The summer was billed as a World Cup extravaganza, a tournament where the globe's brightest talents would dazzle on the biggest stage. While the marquee names certainly lit up the competition, the season’s climax – the UEFA Super Cup in Salzburg – offers a perfect platform for Khvicha Kvaratskhelia to step back into the limelight. At 25, Kvaratskhelia was crowned the Champions League Player of the Season when Paris Saint‑Germain successfully defended their title in May.
Now, with the new campaign kicking off in August, he is eyeing a third consecutive triumph, intent on proving that perhaps the continent’s finest footballer simply missed the World Cup. In PSG’s recent European successes, Marquinhos lifted the Champions League trophy twice, while Desire Doué and Vitinha earned man‑of‑the‑match honours in the finals in Munich and Budapest. Ousmane Dembélé was even awarded a Ballon d’Or for his pivotal role in that historic victory. Yet, many observers point to Kvaratskhelia’s arrival as the true catalyst for PSG’s emerging dominance.
Signed from Napoli in January of the previous year, the Georgian winger made an immediate impact. Before his arrival, PSG’s European performances had been solid but lacked a certain spark. Kvaratskhelia injected a relentless pressing mentality and an all‑action style that perfectly matched Luis Enrique’s tactical blueprint, raising the standards of the entire attacking line.
Aston Villa, the opponents in this season’s UEFA Super Cup, know Kvaratskhelia’s reputation well. It was his quick‑feet and relentless dribbling 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. Last season, Kvaratskhelia’s influence grew even more pronounced during the crucial stages of the Champions League. From the play‑off round onward, no other player matched his goal tally, and he also topped the chart for assists from open play.
This combination of scoring and creating underscores the breadth of his contribution. His achievements are part of a larger narrative.
Before moving to Paris, Kvaratskhelia had already led Napoli to a long‑awaited Serie A title, dispelling the myth that only a legend like Diego Maradona could deliver such glory. The nickname “Kvaradona” reflects the reverence fans have for his ability to change fortunes single‑handedly.
What makes the Georgian winger so fascinating is his uniqueness. In a sport where talent pipelines are increasingly standardized, Kvaratskhelia stands out as an outlier – both in playing style and personal journey. Many of his Paris teammates hail from the French academy system, a well‑structured pipeline that nurtures talent from a young age.
In contrast, Kvaratskhelia’s development was far more organic. Former Rubin Kazan coach Leonid Slutsky summed it up in a 2023 interview: "Nobody knew about him before he came to Italy, and that is understandable." He added, "I congratulate Napoli because they won the lottery," highlighting how rare such a discovery is. Slutsky also spoke of Kvaratskhelia’s "abnormal thinking" on the pitch – a propensity to approach situations differently.
Xisco Muñoz, who played and coached at Kvaratskhelia’s former club Dinamo Tbilisi, echoed this sentiment, explaining that Georgian football is largely street‑derived. "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 play on the streets, they have to fight, they have contact.
It is difficult to teach this in school." David Webb, who worked with Kvaratskhelia in the Georgian national team, recalled the player’s relentless work ethic: "He is very process‑driven. It is not something that he does for effect.
He has done it since day one." This dedication, combined with his innate flair, makes him a nightmare for opponents and a joy for coaches. Georgia’s failure to qualify for the World Cup this summer turned out to be both a curse and a blessing for Kvaratskhelia. While the nation missed out on the global stage, the winger helped his side reach Euro 2024 and then featured in the Club World Cup the following year, providing him with a rare chance to recharge after an intense season.
The downside of this extended break is the potential impact on his Ballon d’Or ambitions. Historically, the award has favored players who shine in World Cup years, though there are exceptions – Kevin Keegan won the prize when England missed the tournament, but at that time only European players were eligible. Looking ahead to 2026, the field will include World Cup‑winning Spaniards and prolific scorers like Kylian Mbappé and Harry Kane, making the competition fierce. The UEFA Super Cup, therefore, represents a crucial moment for Kvaratskhelia to reaffirm his status among the elite.
His individual brilliance continues to embellish and drive the performances of what many consider the best club side in Europe today. As the outstanding player of last season’s Champions League and PSG’s dynamic winger, he is poised to make another statement on the continental stage. Beyond the footballing narrative, OPPO remains the Official Smartphone Product Partner of the UEFA Champions League, a partnership that began in 2022. Fans can also try their luck in the Super 6 competition for a chance to win £250,000, with free entry available now.