- Khvicha Kvaratskhelia will have surgery after rupturing the anterior cruciate ligament in his right knee in Paris Saint-Germain’s Champions League win over Barcelona.
- The Georgian winger, a Ballon d’Or contender, wrote on Instagram: “Not much time has passed, yet one thought keeps circling in my head: why me?”
- Ousmane Dembélé and Marquinhos also went off injured, and Barcelona have complained to UEFA about a banner displayed by PSG supporters.
A Prayer Before Every Game, and a Knee Injury Anyway
Khvicha Kvaratskhelia has told the people who follow him that he asked God for protection before every match and did not get it. The Paris Saint-Germain winger will undergo surgery after rupturing the anterior cruciate ligament in his right knee in PSG’s 4-2 Champions League victory over Barcelona on Tuesday.
“Before every game I asked God to let me leave the pitch healthy,” Kvaratskhelia wrote on Instagram. “But it was in vain. Not much time has passed, yet one thought keeps circling in my head: why me? I never held anything back. I think I prepared for this game better than I ever had before. I thought I was ready for everything … but not for this.”
He ended with a promise to the people around him. “I know I have to come back stronger for my people, who are always by my side. I won’t let you down … I promise I won’t waste a single moment.”
How the Injury Happened
The injury came just before the hour. Kvaratskhelia sprinted back to make a tackle on Xavi Espart, landed awkwardly and twisted the knee. He clutched it, looked in severe pain and was helped off, unable to stand on his right leg, according to the Guardian.
ACL injuries typically need a recovery period of at least six months. Kvaratskhelia played a leading role in PSG’s back-to-back Champions League titles and is one of the contenders for the Ballon d’Or, which will be awarded on Monday.
Dembélé and Marquinhos Also Hurt
Kvaratskhelia was the most serious of three PSG injuries on the night. Ousmane Dembélé was forced off earlier with a thigh injury, and defender Marquinhos was substituted with a similar problem. PSG said both players would have treatment for the next few weeks.
Dembélé’s fitness has been a theme for coach Luis Enrique. He used the France forward sparingly in Ligue 1 last season and has rested him twice in the league this campaign. Dembélé, who scored six goals at the World Cup, struggled with injuries last season and had been beset by leg muscle injuries at his previous club, Barcelona. In 2024-25 he played 50 games in a season for the first time in his career, and his performances earned him the men’s Ballon d’Or.
Barcelona Complain to UEFA
The match left a second storyline off the pitch. Barcelona have complained to UEFA about a banner displayed on Tuesday. It carried the slogan “Massacre, Parisien style” and showed a masked man in a PSG shirt cutting through a Barcelona crest with a chainsaw, with pyrotechnics creating the effect of sparks flying as the saw made contact.
Sources close to the Catalan club said the content of the banner, and some offensive chants from the stands, were reported to UEFA’s match delegate.
For PSG, the result carries a cost. The Guardian’s Champions League review says the reigning champions must deal with the absence of Kvaratskhelia for some time.