Paris Saint-Germain's 25-year-old Georgian forward Khvicha Kvaratskhelia is expected to miss the rest of the 2026-27 season after rupturing the anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) in his right knee during a 4-2 Champions League win over Barcelona. The damage was done in the 59th minute. Tracking back towards his own penalty area, Kvaratskhelia fell awkwardly in a duel with Barcelona defender Xavi Espart, twisting his right knee, and was unable to put any weight on the leg. PSG's medical staff helped him off the pitch. "Having suffered a rupture of the anterior cruciate ligament in his right knee during yesterday's match against FC Barcelona, Khvicha Kvaratskhelia will undergo surgery in the coming days," the club later confirmed in an official statement. PSG have not put a timeline on his return, but ruptures of this kind typically demand at least nine months of rehabilitation. The Parisians were dealt two further blows on the same night. Ousmane Dembele went off with a left thigh injury in the 19th minute, while captain Marquinhos hurt his right thigh, and both now face several weeks on the sidelines.
The loss hits PSG especially hard. Since his move from Napoli in January 2025, Kvaratskhelia has established himself as a central figure in Paris, helping the club to back-to-back Champions League titles. He had made 11 appearances this season, and the Barcelona fixture was his first Champions League start of the campaign. Kvaratskhelia is also regarded as one of the main contenders for the Ballon d'Or, which will be presented on Monday. In the Onze d'Or 2026, the fan-voted award run by French magazine Onze Mondial, he took 10.8% of the two million votes cast, finishing third behind Kylian Mbappe on 48.2% and Joao Neves on 11.9%. As things stand, PSG's talisman is not expected back until next season.
