Ousmane Dembele backs Kvaratskhelia for Ballon d’Or

Ousmane Dembele has named Paris Saint-Germain teammate Khvicha Kvaratskhelia as his choice to win the 2026 Ballon d’Or, adding another intriguing chapter to the conversation surrounding Kylian Mbappe.

During a BBC interview with journalist Julien Laurens, Dembélé praised the Georgian winger’s outstanding season and repeated an expression closely associated with Mbappé.

“The 2026 Ballon d’Or? It’s Kvaratskhelia. Honestly, he deserves it. He had an exceptional season. As they say, he caught the eye too,” Dembele said.

Mbappe previously used the phrase while discussing the qualities he believed should influence the award. He later argued that individual performance should take priority when voters make their decision.

The exchange follows Mbappe’s recent comment that Dembele had always been regarded as talented, whereas he had been viewed as “the chosen one.” Dembele responded calmly, saying: “I’ve never been the chosen one, but I worked hard. Last year, I was rewarded for a fantastic season with PSG, and this year, we’ll see, no pressure, just calmly.”

Despite holding the current award, Dembele insists collective success matters more. “When I joined PSG, the main goal was winning the Champions League,” he explained. He added that the memories shared with supporters and teammates represent the real victory.