Dembele backs Kvaratskhelia for Ballon d’Or after echoing Mbappe’s criteria

Paris Saint-Germain forward Ousmane Dembele has reiterated his belief that team-mate Khvicha Kvaratskhelia should win the 2026 Ballon d’Or.

Dembele, who won the award last year and is among the 30 nominees this year, again put forward the Georgia international as his preferred candidate.

Kvaratskhelia played a key role in Paris Saint-Germain’s second successive Champions League triumph, producing 10 goals and seven assists in 16 matches. The Ballon d’Or ceremony will take place in London on 26 October.

Speaking to BBC while with the France squad, Dembele said: “Kvaratskhelia honestly deserves it. He had an exceptional season. As they say, he also dazzled. What are the new criteria? Is it about dazzling and influence? I think he meets the criteria.”

Dembele’s reference to “dazzling” echoed comments made previously by Real Madrid forward Kylian Mbappe, who said: “The ability to produce an outstanding individual performance and dazzle is what leaves an impression on people when it comes to an award such as the Ballon d’Or.”

Dembele also played down the importance of individual recognition compared with Paris Saint-Germain’s success in Europe.

“Clearly, winning an individual award such as the Ballon d’Or is exceptional,” he said, according to Foot Mercato. “But when I joined Paris Saint-Germain, the main objective was to win the Champions League. We have won it twice and want to continue winning it. That is the most important thing.”

He added: “The memories you leave with the fans and all Parisians are the real victory. Just like the moments I have shared with my team-mates.”

Dembele had long been viewed as a gifted but inconsistent player whose progress was often disrupted by injuries. However, his career has changed significantly since moving to Paris Saint-Germain, where he has won the Champions League twice and claimed the Ballon d’Or last year.

The 28-year-old said maturity had been central to that transformation.

“The mentality. As you get older, particularly at 28, you mature more. Your footballing abilities develop,” said Dembele. “I am not the same player I was at 20, when I was at Dortmund. A lot of things change.”

He explained that his priorities on the pitch had also evolved.

“You want to score and create goals, but over the years I have focused mainly on being effective in everything I do on the pitch,” he said. “Above all, it is about helping the team.”

The comments come after a recent exchange between Dembele and Mbappe over the Ballon d’Or. Mbappe said Dembele had always been regarded as talented, whereas he had “always been considered the chosen player”.

Dembele responded: “I was never considered the chosen player, but I worked hard, and last year I was rewarded with a great season at Paris Saint-Germain.”