Cannavaro Backs Kvaratskhelia for 2026 Ballon d'Or

Italy World Cup winner Fabio Cannavaro has backed Paris Saint-Germain winger Khvicha Kvaratskhelia to win the 2026 Ballon d'Or, with the award set to be announced in London on October 26. Cannavaro chose the Georgian forward after assessing his Champions League performances and impact.

Cannavaro told Gazzetta dello Sport that Kvaratskhelia's displays in last season's UEFA Champions League were the key reason behind his selection, placing him ahead of players including Kylian Mbappe, Lionel Messi, Ousmane Dembele, and Lamine Yamal.

"In last season’s Champions League, Kvaratskhelia was the most influential player from a footballing standpoint, and if I had to choose, I would have no doubt," said Cannavaro, the former Italy defender.

The 2006 Ballon d'Or winner highlighted Kvaratskhelia's European campaign while acknowledging that other candidates have strong cases based on World Cup performances and career achievements.

"Everyone may use the World Cup as their benchmark, think of Mbappe or consider Messi and his career, but Kvara did extraordinary things," said Cannavaro.

Kvaratskhelia helped PSG secure back-to-back Champions League titles in 2025 and 2026, according to Football Italia. He recorded 19 goals and 11 assists in 48 appearances across all competitions for PSG last season, as reported by Yardbarker.

The Georgia international previously played for Napoli, where he contributed 30 goals and 20 assists in 107 matches and helped the club win the Serie A title in the 2022-23 season, according to Football Italia.

"I have a good memory. I don’t just focus on the most recent events," said Cannavaro.

Cannavaro, who captained Italy to the 2006 FIFA World Cup title, has argued that his evaluation considers a player's broader body of work rather than only the latest results. The Ballon d'Or ceremony will take place in London on October 26.