Toni Kroos revealed that Khvicha Kvaratskhelia was his favorite choice for the 2026 Ballon d’Or when assessing the club season alone, believing the Paris Saint-Germain star performed at a level that fully justified contending for the award.
Speaking on the Einfach mal Luppen podcast, which he co-hosts with his brother Felix, the former Real Madrid star detailed his rationale for favoring the Georgian winger, while conceding that Harry Kane deservedly won the accolade when factoring in the complete picture of the season and the World Cup.
Regarding Kvaratskhelia, Kroos stated: “He would have been my pick; in my eyes, he was the best player in the best team in Europe.”
He added: “Nobody won everything,” pointing out that the race remained open, though the World Cup taking place in the same year naturally carried immense weight in shaping voters’ selections.
Kroos argued that Georgia’s absence from the World Cup weakened Kvaratskhelia’s chances despite his stellar season with PSG, noting that his sixth-place finish still reflected the strength of his case even without participating in a tournament that benefited those ranked ahead of him.
The German midfielder went on to suggest that Kylian Mbappé would not have secured a top-five spot without his World Cup performances, while also arguing that Lamine Yamal’s inclusion in the top ranks would have been significantly harder without winning the title with Spain.
Kvaratskhelia played a pivotal role in Paris Saint-Germain retaining their UEFA Champions League crown, scoring ten goals and providing seven assists in 16 appearances. He also won the crucial penalty that drew his side level against Arsenal in the final, before PSG ultimately sealed the trophy in a penalty shootout.
The Georgian finished sixth in the final voting with 541 points, while Kane claimed the prestigious award for the first time with 1,055 points, edging out Mbappé by just 28 points, with Yamal finishing third.
