Dembele and Kvaratskhelia back each other for Ballon d'Or
Ousmane Dembele wants Khvicha Kvaratskhelia to win the Ballon d'Or. Kvaratskhelia wants Dembele to win it.
The two Paris St-Germain team-mates are backing each other for football's annual prize for the best men's player in the world. They made the comments exclusively to BBC Sport in interviews published on 24 September. BBC Sport
Dembele is the man to beat. He is the reigning Ballon d'Or winner after taking the award last time around.
Yet the French forward said Kvaratskhelia deserves it this time. He said his team-mate had an exceptional season and described him as the best in the world.
Kvaratskhelia sees it the other way. Speaking to BBC Sport journalist Julien Laurens, the Georgia winger said Dembele deserves the award for last season.
Then came the punchline. Dembele joked the pair could cut the trophy in two and share it.
The exchange is captured in a 48-second BBC Sport video titled 'Kvaratskhelia and Dembele want to share the Ballon d'Or'. OneFootball also shared the clip under the title 'Dembele and Kvaratskhelia back each other for Ballon d'Or'. OneFootball
It tells you plenty about PSG right now. The French champions have 10 players shortlisted for the 2026 Ballon d'Or. Dembele leads their charge alongside names such as Harry Kane and Kylian Mbappe, who headline the wider shortlist. AP News
What makes this stand out is the tone. Award season usually brings campaigns and pointed messages. Here are two direct rivals for the same prize, laughing through it and pointing at each other.
