Kroos wants Georgian star to win Ballon d’Or

Former Real Madrid and Germany midfielder Toni Kroos has revealed his preference for the 2026 Ballon d'Or. He wants PSG's Georgian forward Khichdi Kavaratskheliya to win the most prestigious individual award in football.

Spanish media outlet Foot Mercato reported that Kroos' number one choice for this year's Ballon d'Or is Kavaratskheliya. The former German star said, "For me, he is the number one player now."

However, many may be surprised by Kroos' choice. Because he did not put forward stars like Rodri, Lionel Messi, Jude Bellingham or Kylian Mbappe, who are in the discussion for the Ballon d'Or. According to him, they have not had such an extraordinary season for the club, which can make a strong claim for this award.

On the other hand, Kavaratskheliya's performance last season impressed Kroos. He described the Georgian winger as the 'best player of last season' and also praised him as the 'best player in the world's best football team'.

The statistics also speak in Kavaratskheliya's favor. He scored 19 goals and made 11 assists in 48 matches for PSG in all competitions. His performance was especially eye-catching in the Champions League. The 25-year-old star scored 10 goals in 16 matches and assisted 7 goals for his teammates.

Kavaratskheliya's contribution was also notable in the knockout stages of the Champions League. He played an effective role for the team in important matches against Monaco, Chelsea, Liverpool and Bayern Munich. In the end, his performance was also important in PSG's path to winning the Champions League.

After such performances, Kroos considers Kavaratskheliya one of the contenders for the Ballon d'Or. The Georgian footballer's potential has been further fueled by the fact that a star like the former Real Madrid star has taken a stand in his favor.

However, it would undoubtedly be a big surprise if Kavaratskheliya won the Ballon d'Or, leaving behind stars like World Cup winners Yamal, Rodri or runner-up Messi. 'France Football' magazine will announce the name of the 2026 Ballon d'Or winner in London on October 26.