Cristiano Ronaldo sends Khvicha Kvaratskhelia message of support after ACL injury for PSG star originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
Two-time defending Champions League winners PSG were dealt a significant blow on Tuesday when star winger Khvicha Kvaratskhelia was helped off the pitch by two trainers.
In their highly-anticipated victory over Barcelona in league phase play, Kvara attempted to hip-check Xavi Espart off the ball and instead landed awkwardly, his knee buckling before the Georgian went careening to the ground. He was unable to put any weight on his leg as he was helped off the field, stoking fears of a serious injury.
It was thusly confirmed the following morning that the 25-year-old had suffered a torn ACL in his right knee, condemning the exciting winger to a long spell on the sideline.
Amidst a difficult time for Kvara, a legend of the game has reached out to offer a public display of support as he looks to make a comeback as soon as possible.
MORE:All the latest Cristiano Ronaldo news
Cristiano Ronaldo sends message of support to Kvara
Khvicha Kvaratskhelia confirmed the serious knee injury in a post on his Instagram, expressing his frustration in this difficult moment.
"Before every game I asked God to let me leave the pitch healthy," Kvaratskhelia wrote on the social media post. "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. 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."
In the comments were a multitude of players expressing their support from across the game, including his PSG teammates Ferran Torres, Desire Doue, and Achraf Hakimi, as well as other players like Scott McTominay, Tammy Abraham, and many others.
One stood out above all the rest, as Cristiano Ronaldo left his heartfelt thoughts in the comments.
"The toughest battles in football are often the ones nobody sees," Ronaldo wrote. "I know that feeling, Kvara. But never forget what brought you this far, and don't let a difficult moment make you doubt how far you can go. Keep that fire on. Your best is still to come."
Is Khvicha Kvaratskhelia a Ronaldo fan?
Khvicha Khvaratskhelia has spoke at length about being a huge Cristiano Ronaldo fan growing up in Georgia.
"He was my idol, I was watching him everywhere," Kvaratskhelia told Rio Ferdinand last year. "I think the professional that he was is the main character for me, because everybody knows he's one of the best players in the history of football, but the way he was living, it was the thing that I took from him and learned."
Even though he idolized Ronaldo growing up, "Kvaradona" has admitted that "Messi is top" in the GOAT debate.
Khvicha Kvaratskhelia injury history
This is the first major injury that Khvicha Kvaratskhelia has suffered in his football career.
Previously, he had never missed more than six games in a row with an injury, and even that was back in 2021, when he was still playing for Rubin Kazan.
Since moving to Napoli in the summer of 2022, Kvara has been a workhorse. He has never missed more than two club matches for any particular injury.