Platini backs a PSG player for the Ballon d'Or

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·31 August 2026

Platini backs a PSG player for the Ballon d'Or

As Champions League winners, Paris Saint-Germain will logically see several of their players nominated for the Ballon d’Or ceremony. Michel Platini, a former French football legend and three-time Ballon d’Or winner (1983-1985), spoke about the subject on Canal+. While he places several European stars among the favorites, he revealed that he would put a small bet on Paris player Khvicha Kvaratskhelia, the 25-year-old forward.

Platini: “I’d put a small bet on the Paris Saint-Germain player, Kvara.”

“It’s complicated, because for ten years we had a Messi-Ronaldo-Ronaldo-Messi generation… Now it’s much more open, as we saw last year. So I’m not going to name just one: I think the most effective one is Kylian (Mbappé). The one who is very important for a team, as we saw, is Rodri; he had a very good World Cup. The most fabulous footballer is Lamine Yamal. The one who won everything is Fabian Ruiz… so that makes four. But I’d put a small bet on the Paris Saint-Germain player, Kvara.

Platini: “There are four or five players who deserve it.”

I think he won the European Cup for Paris Saint-Germain. That’s why I’m putting a small bet on him; I didn’t say he was my favorite, but I’m putting a small bet on him. There are four or five players who deserve it… Kylian had a tremendous season, he was top scorer everywhere, unfortunately they’ll say he didn’t win anything. Then there are the others who won a lot, but who were not top scorers…”

As is often the case, unfortunately, the top scorer is placed among the Ballon d’Or favorites. But if the rules were respected, it is obviously a player like Kvaratskhelia who should be the overwhelming favorite for this honor. Certainly, he is a formidable attacker, but what he brings in terms of intensity, selflessness, and defensive effort remains unmatched.

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Beyond simply being an attacker, he is a pillar of the team and perfectly embodies the meaning of the word “collective.” In the Champions League, especially last season, he shone in every knockout match. He was a major architect of this latest success and therefore fully deserves to be rewarded individually for it.

But we know it’s never that simple; the media aspect comes into play, and everything seems wide open this year. Sometimes trophies are especially important, which would make the Parisians the main favorites, notably Fabian Ruiz. Except the main criteria quickly “change.” Also, sadly, those who are not attackers are rarely highlighted.

This article was translated into English by Artificial Intelligence. You can read the original version in 🇫🇷 here.