Emery tips Kvaratskhelia for 2026 Ballon d’Or after Super Cup impact

Unai Emery has backed Paris Saint-Germain winger Khvicha Kvaratskhelia as the leading candidate to win the 2026 Ballon d’Or after his decisive display in the UEFA Super Cup.

Paris Saint-Germain defeated Aston Villa 2-1 in the final at Red Bull Arena in Salzburg, Austria, on Wednesday evening to claim the trophy.

Kvaratskhelia opened the scoring in the 20th minute, producing the moment that most impressed Emery. The Aston Villa manager said the Georgia international had shown the quality required to challenge for football’s most prestigious individual award.

“Kvaratskhelia is the leading candidate to win the Ballon d’Or in my opinion. He is a wonderful player,” Emery told reporters at his post-match news conference.

The Spanish manager also highlighted the difficulty of containing Kvaratskhelia, saying Aston Villa had prepared specifically to limit his influence during the match.

“We tried to stop him, but the quality he showed was amazing,” Emery added.

Although Aston Villa’s tactical plan was designed to reduce the winger’s impact, Kvaratskhelia still found a way to make the difference and put Paris Saint-Germain ahead. His contribution was central to the French club’s victory as they secured the UEFA Super Cup at Aston Villa’s expense.

Emery’s comments came immediately after the final, with the Aston Villa boss identifying Kvaratskhelia as his early choice for the 2026 Ballon d’Or. The award recognises the outstanding individual player of the year, and Emery’s assessment was based on the winger’s performance against his own side.

The result meant Paris Saint-Germain left Salzburg with the trophy after a 2-1 win, while Aston Villa were beaten despite their efforts to contain one of the most influential players on the pitch.

Kvaratskhelia’s opening goal provided the clearest evidence of his impact in the contest. Emery’s praise focused not only on the goal itself but also on the player’s ability to perform despite facing a defensive strategy intended to prevent him from dictating the game.

For Emery, that combination of talent, influence and resilience was enough to place Kvaratskhelia at the front of the Ballon d’Or conversation for 2026. His view followed a match in which the winger helped Paris Saint-Germain overcome Aston Villa and lift the European trophy.