Ousmane Dembélé backs Kvicha Kvaratskhelia for 2026 Ballon d’Or
Paris Saint-Germain forward Ousmane Dembélé endorsed teammate Kvicha Kvaratskhelia on Sept. 19, 2026, to win the Ballon d’Or at the upcoming ceremony in London on Oct. 26. The French attacker emphasized that the Georgian international delivered a standout campaign that earned him the global recognition.
Dembélé defended his choice. “He is the best player in the world,” Dembélé said. “I would be absolutely delighted if he won, because he deserves it,” the forward stated, emphasizing that an exceptional season justified the accolade.
Trophies and individual records during the treble run
During the 2025/2026 season, the Georgian forward scored 24 goals and recorded ten assists across 57 appearances for Paris Saint-Germain, securing the UEFA Champions League title, a fifth consecutive Ligue 1 championship, and the Intercontinental trophy won on penalties against Flamengo. Those contributions guided the French squad to victories in all three competitions on their calendar.
Kvaratskhelia praised his teammate and voted for the Frenchman during the same media appearance. “The way Ousmane plays, helps the team, and leads the group is very important for us,” the Georgian attacker explained. “His character is incredible,” the footballer added while evaluating their daily training sessions at Paris Saint-Germain. He concluded by stating that the squad feels very happy to have the French forward in the lineup.
Ten Paris Saint-Germain players compete for the award
Organizers shortlisted ten Paris Saint-Germain players for the individual accolade ahead of the ceremony scheduled in the British capital. The official nominees from the Parisian roster include:
- Ousmane Dembélé
- Achraf Hakimi
- Khvicha Kvaratskhelia
- Marquinhos
- Nuno Mendes
- João Neves
- Willian Pacho
- Fabián Ruiz
- Vitinha
- Ferran Torres
