Paris Saint-Germain have ten players on the Ballon d'Or shortlist, yet the loudest debate surrounds only one of them. Khvicha Kvaratskhelia, who holds the UEFA Player of the Year award, did not feature at the World Cup with Georgia, an absence widely viewed as a serious obstacle on his route to the trophy. Even so, Toni Kroos and Michel Platini are both convinced the Georgian forward deserves it. "When players and legends like Michel Platini and Toni Kroos say that I deserve this trophy it's a real pleasure," Kvaratskhelia said in response to the praise.
Luis Enrique, the PSG manager, has made the case that the award should go to one of his own players. Enrique's position aside, Kvaratskhelia's displays in the matches that mattered most over the past twelve months keep him deservedly among the leading favourites.
