Khvicha Kvaratskhelia (foto: Getty Images)
PSG star Khvicha Kvaratskhelia continues breaking Champions League records and is now entering the Ballon d’Or conversation.
Khvicha Kvaratskhelia is no longer only one of the most entertaining footballers in Europe. The Georgian superstar is now becoming a completely legitimate candidate for the Ballon d’Or.
The Paris Saint-Germain winger is playing the best football of his career and once again delivered on the biggest stage during PSG’s dramatic Champions League semi-final victory against Bayern Munich.
The French champions secured qualification for a second consecutive Champions League final after a thrilling 6:5 aggregate triumph.
Kvaratskhelia was once again one of the key figures.
With his assist for Ousmane Dembele, the Georgian made history.
He became the first player ever to contribute either a goal or an assist in seven consecutive Champions League knockout matches during a single season.
The numbers behind his campaign are extraordinary.
Kvaratskhelia has already produced 16 direct goal contributions in this season’s Champions League campaign, scoring ten goals and adding six assists.
Those numbers place him alongside the very best attacking players in Europe.
Yet statistics still do not fully explain his impact.
The Georgian is not only devastating in one-on-one situations, but also relentless without the ball.
Against Bayern, he constantly tracked back, pressed aggressively, and worked deep inside his own half to support the defense.
Few attacking players in Europe currently combine technical brilliance, speed, creativity, and defensive intensity at such a high level.
After the match in Munich, Kvaratskhelia admitted that Bayern provided PSG with their toughest challenge of the season so far.
"We are very happy to be in the final. But we have another extremely important match ahead of us."
"It will be very difficult against Arsenal. Bayern is one of the best teams in the world, and I think it was the toughest match of the season."
Now PSG prepares for another enormous challenge.
Arsenal arrive in the final unbeaten in this season’s Champions League and currently possess the competition’s strongest defense.
Stopping Kvaratskhelia, however, could prove their biggest problem yet.
The Georgian international has evolved into the complete modern winger.
When he receives the ball, he creates panic. When he loses it, he immediately attacks opponents to win it back.
Last season, Dembele became the symbol of PSG’s European success and eventually lifted the Ballon d’Or.
This year, many believe another PSG player could follow the same path.
Kvaratskhelia’s biggest disadvantage in the Ballon d’Or race is the absence of the World Cup, as Georgia failed to qualify.
Still, if the tournament does not produce one dominant superstar performance, “Kvaradona” may remain one of the strongest candidates for football’s most prestigious individual prize.