Kvaratskhelia proud of George Best comparison after Ballon d'Or nomination
Khvicha Kvaratskhelia said he already feels he has achieved "something special" after being named on the 30-player Ballon d'Or shortlist, comments made ahead of Georgia's Nations League meeting with Northern Ireland on Friday.
Kvaratskhelia, 25, has won back-to-back Champions Leagues with Paris St-Germain and was named player of the season in the Champions League in 2025-26; the Ballon d'Or will be handed out on 26 October. The Georgian is among 30 players in contention for the award.
"To be a Ballon d'Or contender, it's already a pleasure to be among these players in the race," Kvaratskhelia said. "I feel already that I did something special in the last year, I'm really happy and let's see what's gonna happen." He added: "I'm happy that I represent Georgia, a small country. Little kids, they know that even if they are from a small country, they can achieve these things."
Kvaratskhelia addressed comparisons with George Best directly. "What about George Best? I know him, of course," he said. "Some people a long time ago told me even when I played it seems like him. I'm not sure because he was one of the best in football history and it [the comparison] is a pleasure and I'm proud."
Northern Ireland remain the smallest country by population to produce a Ballon d'Or winner, with George Best the recipient of the award in 1968. While Northern Ireland manager Michael O'Neill was not yet born when Best won the Ballon d'Or off the back of a European Cup win with Manchester United, he said he understands the significance of such a figure for a small footballing nation.
O'Neill said: "George Best, an iconic figure in world football and obviously we're very privileged that he came from Northern Ireland. In many ways, he puts our country on the map." He added: "I think in Georgia, you have that situation now with Kvaratskhelia who I think is a world-class player. For me he was probably the best player in the Champions League last season over the whole competition. We obviously have to give him special attention. It's the same when you play against any world-class player in any country that you have to be aware that he can win the game in a moment, that he can create so much and he can lift his team as well."
Georgia's national coach Willy Sagnol, a former France defender who was a Les Bleus team-mate of Zinedine Zidane, commented on Kvaratskhelia's mindset as much as his ability. "You were talking about Ballon d'Or. Times maybe change but I think sometimes the past was better where players were playing and waiting to the end to see who would be Ballon d'Or and then be happy to be or disappointed not to be," Sagnol said. "Too many times in the last weeks, I see players saying 'I'm the best, I'm the best, I'm the best'. Khvicha never said that and that's why I'm very proud to be his head coach. He's not just about a fantastic football player, but he's also a fantastic personality who thinks always about the team and not about himself and I'm sure [on Friday] he will show it again."
Georgia play Northern Ireland on Friday in the Nations League, with the match to be shown live across BBC Sport.
