Kvaratskhelia: Ballon d'Or nomination already feels special
Khvicha Kvaratskhelia says simply being nominated for the Ballon d'Or already feels like "something special".
The Paris Saint-Germain winger is one of 30 players on the shortlist for the award, given each year to the world's best player. The winner will be announced on 26 October, according to BBC Sport.
Kvaratskhelia arrives on that list as the player of the season in the Champions League, Europe's leading club competition, for 2025-26. He scored 10 goals and made seven assists in last season's competition, form that helped PSG complete a second straight league and European double.
It is the third time the 25-year-old has been named among the 30 nominees, and the second time as a PSG player. PSG have 10 players nominated in total, a new record for one club.
For Kvaratskhelia, the pride goes beyond Paris. He said he is happy to represent Georgia, a small country, so that little kids know they can achieve these things.
That idea of small nations producing great players links neatly to his next game. Georgia face Northern Ireland on Friday in the Nations League, UEFA's competition for national teams.
Northern Ireland remain the smallest country by population to produce a Ballon d'Or winner. That was George Best in 1968. Kvaratskhelia called the comparison to Best "a pleasure" and said he is "proud". He added that some people told him a long time ago that his play seemed like Best.
The dugouts on Friday add more history. Northern Ireland are managed by Michael O'Neill. Georgia are coached by Willy Sagnol, the former France defender and teammate of Zinedine Zidane. Zidane won the Ballon d'Or in 1998.
In Paris, Kvaratskhelia's closest rival for the prize may be his own teammate. He and Ousmane Dembélé have joked about sharing the 2026 award, and when asked to cast his own vote, Kvaratskhelia named Dembélé.
What makes this stand out is the tone. No bold prediction. No campaign. Just a player saying the nomination itself is enough, while a whole country watches along with him.
