Dembele and Kvaratskhelia Share Mutual Ballon d’Or Support
Ousmane Dembele and Khvicha Kvaratskhelia have both been named on the 2026 Ballon d’Or shortlist, and neither is shy about saying the other deserves it. The Dembele Kvaratskhelia Ballon d’Or story has become one of the warmest subplots of the season, with PSG’s two sharpest forwards trading praise in interviews rather than jostling for the spotlight.
Dembele, the reigning holder, joked that the award could simply be split between them. “We can cut it in two,” he said, before turning serious about his teammate’s form. “honestly, he [Kvaratskhelia] deserves it, the season he had was exceptional,” he added.
Kvaratskhelia returned the compliment without hesitation. “Of course it’s him [Dembele], the season he had last year, he deserves it,” he said.
Dembele went further when asked to describe what Kvaratskhelia brings to the side. “Every time he has the ball something can happen. Every time he goes one v one, he provokes the opponent. He has shown all his quality. Especially last season where he had a really, really good season. Thankfully we didn’t let him go to the Premier League.”
Ten Nominations Underline PSG Dominance in London
PSG have ten players named on the 2026 shortlist, a total no other club can match this year. It says a lot about a squad built to win the Champions League and Ligue 1 in the same campaign, with Dembele and Kvaratskhelia among the leading names inside that group.
The ceremony takes place on 26 October in London, and PSG’s contingent will make up a large share of the room that night. For supporters wanting a reminder of where French football’s biggest individual prize has gone before, our rundown of the club’s previous club winners is worth a look.
Comparing Dembele and Kvaratskhelia Numbers Against Rivals
The numbers back up the sentiment. Dembele produced 31 goals and assists combined last season, form that carried him to his first Ballon d’Or. He added six goals in ten appearances for France as they reached the 2026 World Cup semi-finals.
Kvaratskhelia’s case rests on a shorter body of work but no less impressive. PSG signed him from Napoli for £59m in January 2025, and by the end of the season he had been named the Champions League’s best player, finishing with 10 goals and six assists in Europe’s top competition.
Set against the wider field, the pair have serious company. Harry Kane scored a club record 61 goals in 51 games for Bayern Munich last season, then added six more at the World Cup. Kylian Mbappe managed 42 goals in 44 appearances for Real Madrid and won the World Cup Golden Boot with 10 goals.
Those totals explain why the Dembele Kvaratskhelia Ballon d’Or conversation carries real weight. PSG’s pair are competing with two of the game’s most ruthless finishers, not making up the numbers on a crowded list. We covered the wider context in our recent debate with Mbappe, which sits alongside this one nicely.
Luis Enrique’s Attackers Prepare for London Ceremony
Dembele arrived at PSG without a Ballon d’Or to his name. He has since become the club’s most important forward under Luis Enrique, and winning the award hasn’t changed how he approaches the job.
“I didn’t change. I played my game, last season and the one before when I won the Ballon d’Or, I stayed the same person. When you win it for the first time, you don’t want people to say that you were lucky. So you want to continue to be at the top.”
That mentality now extends to backing his teammate rather than guarding the trophy. With Kvaratskhelia adding another route to goal, Luis Enrique’s attack looks well equipped to stay at the top of the game long after the votes are counted in London. For the full interviews behind these quotes, the BBC Sport report carries both players’ comments in full.
