Cannavaro Backs Kvaratskhelia for 2026 Ballon d’Or Over Mbappe
Fabio Cannavaro has backed Paris Saint-Germain winger Khvicha Kvaratskhelia for the 2026 Ballon d’Or, arguing that the Georgian’s influence during last season’s Champions League should carry greater weight than the most recent international fixtures.
Key figures
| Item | Figure or date | Context |
|---|---|---|
| Ballon d’Or ceremony | October 26 | Winner of the 2026 award is due to be announced |
| Kvaratskhelia at PSG | 19 goals, 11 assists | 48 appearances in all competitions in 2025-26 |
| Kvaratskhelia at Napoli | 30 goals, 20 assists | 107 matches and a Serie A title |
| Cannavaro’s Ballon d’Or | 2006 | Won 20 years before the current vote |
The former Italy captain, himself a Ballon d’Or winner in 2006, believes Kvaratskhelia’s performances for PSG in Europe have made the decisive case. The winger helped the French club retain the Champions League and ended the 2025-26 campaign with 19 goals and 11 assists from 48 games.
Cannavaro said he was judging the full season rather than allowing the latest matches to dictate his choice. In his view, Kvaratskhelia was last season’s most significant Champions League player from a footballing perspective, leaving him with no hesitation over his preferred winner.
He acknowledged that other voters may place greater emphasis on the World Cup, with Kylian Mbappé’s international profile and Lionel Messi’s career likely to feature in the wider discussion. Cannavaro nevertheless maintained that Kvaratskhelia had produced exceptional work over the campaign.
The PSG forward’s rise has followed a highly productive spell in Naples. Across 107 appearances for Napoli, he recorded 30 goals and 20 assists while playing a central part in the club’s Serie A title success.
With the October 26 ceremony approaching, Kvaratskhelia is now among the leading candidates for football’s major individual honour. A victory would add a personal landmark to a season in which PSG again lifted Europe’s biggest club prize.
