Hamann Names Kvaratskhelia World Football’s Best Left Winger Ahead of Diaz
Luis Diaz’s move from Liverpool to Bayern Munich has strengthened his case among Europe’s leading left-sided attackers, but Dietmar Hamann believes Paris Saint-Germain’s Khvicha Kvaratskhelia remains the standout in the position after another Champions League-winning season.
What changed for the club
Diaz left Liverpool in a €75 million (£64m/$87m) deal this summer, ending a spell that began with his January 2022 arrival from Porto. He won the Premier League, FA Cup and Carabao Cup during his time at Anfield, scoring 17 times in his final Liverpool campaign.
His first season with Bundesliga champions Bayern brought a new personal best of 26 goals, and he has already found the net early in the 2026-27 season. The Colombian’s output has inevitably drawn attention at Liverpool, who also allowed Mohamed Salah, their “Egyptian King”, to depart this summer.
Hamann placed Diaz second in his assessment of last season’s left wingers, praising the Bayern player’s level after a demanding year that included World Cup duty and limited recovery time.
- Diaz joined Liverpool from Porto in January 2022.
- He scored 17 goals in his last season at Liverpool.
- His debut Bayern campaign produced 26 goals.
- Liverpool received €75 million (£64m/$87m) for his transfer.
Competition context
Kvaratskhelia has helped PSG win the Champions League in successive seasons and has emerged as a serious Golden Ball candidate. Hamann considers the Georgian the leading left winger, arguing that his standing should extend to the Ballon d’Or race despite Georgia’s absence from the World Cup.
Former France defender Bacary Sagna also put Kvaratskhelia ahead of the competition for the individual prize. While recognising Kylian Mbappe as one of the world’s top three players, Sagna argued that strikers receive greater visibility because of their scoring opportunities and said Kvaratskhelia’s influence for PSG made him last season’s most important player outside the Champions League success itself.
Vinicius Junior remains part of the discussion. The Brazil international scored 24 goals in all competitions as Real Madrid won the Champions League in 2024, then narrowly missed out on the Ballon d’Or to European Championship winner Rodri. He has reached at least 22 goals in each of the past five seasons, although Hamann put him behind Kvaratskhelia and Diaz for last season, while acknowledging his ability and expressing reservations about aspects of his on-field conduct.
Harry Kane is another prominent contender after scoring 61 goals for Bayern last season and captaining England to the World Cup semi-finals.
What is scheduled next
No fixture is attached to the current individual-award debate, with the next significant decision being the Golden Ball and Ballon d’Or voting. Kvaratskhelia’s Champions League record with PSG, Kane’s extraordinary scoring season and World Cup run, and Diaz’s impact following his Bayern move have all created a wider contest.
For Diaz, the immediate task is to maintain his early-season form at Bayern. Continued goals would reinforce his place in the discussion, while Liverpool will face the consequences of having sold a player who has quickly raised his production after leaving Anfield.
