Kvaratskhelia speaks out after ACL injury suffered against Barcelona

Paris Saint-Germain winger Khvicha Kvaratskhelia has broken his silence on Instagram after the right knee injury he suffered in the French champions' 4-2 Champions League victory over Barcelona on 20 October 2026. According to L'Équipe and Mundo Deportivo, the 25-year-old Georgia international ruptured the anterior cruciate ligament in his right knee. Mundo Deportivo reports that he has already undergone surgery and will be out for the remainder of the season.

In his post, Kvaratskhelia asked why the injury had happened to him and said he had prepared for the game better than ever. As reported by Mundo Deportivo, the winger said he prayed before every match to leave the pitch healthy, and described the setback as God having chosen him.

How did Kvaratskhelia get injured?

Kvaratskhelia hurt his right knee during PSG's 4-2 home win over Barcelona in the Champions League. Mundo Deportivo says he clutched his knee after a challenge involving Barcelona's Xavi Espart and could not walk off the pitch unaided, which raised fears of a serious injury. ScoreLab data shows he played 59 minutes in that game and earned a 7.84 rating, his highest in his last eight appearances.

What do PSG lose without Kvaratskhelia?

PSG are without one of their most creative attackers early in the 2026/27 campaign. According to ScoreLab data, Kvaratskhelia played 377 minutes across 7 Ligue 1 games this season, starting 5, with 1 goal and 1 assist. He was third in PSG's scoring chart, and his 2.86 key passes and 4.54 successful dribbles per 90 minutes both placed him in the 91st percentile among Ligue 1 players in his position. His average season rating was 7.1.

The Georgian is under contract with PSG until 30 June 2029, and ScoreLab data puts his market value at €101.4 million. He had featured in each of PSG's three games before the injury: he scored against Le Mans on 10 October 2026, then played away at Manchester City and Strasbourg.

Who is Khvicha Kvaratskhelia?

Khvicha Kvaratskhelia is a Georgian winger born on 12 February 2001. ScoreLab data shows 81 goals in 315 club appearances across 7 clubs, plus 23 goals in 54 matches for Georgia. His honours include 2 Champions League titles, 2 UEFA Super Cups, 2 Ligue 1 titles, 1 Serie A title, 1 Coupe de France and 1 FIFA Intercontinental Cup.

What happens next?

None of the published sources gives an exact recovery timeline for Kvaratskhelia. Mundo Deportivo reports that he will miss the rest of the season. According to ScoreLab fixtures, PSG play their first game without him on 25 October 2026, at home to Olympique Lyonnais in Ligue 1, before travelling to Le Havre on 30 October 2026.