Ballon d'Or 2026: cited among the favourites, Khvicha Kvaratskhelia will be absent from the ceremony

Kvaratskhelia, among the Ballon d'Or favourites, will miss Monday's ceremony in London due to knee surgery in Doha.

Khvicha Kvaratskhelia, listed among the top five contenders for the 2026 Ballon d'Or, will be absent from the ceremony in London on Monday evening. The Georgian winger suffered an anterior cruciate ligament rupture in his right knee during Paris Saint-Germain's Champions League match against Barcelona and must travel to Doha, Qatar early in the week for surgery.

Kvaratskhelia has enjoyed a stellar season with PSG, scoring ten goals and providing seven assists in European competition as the club secured a second consecutive Champions League title. Despite Georgia's failure to qualify for the World Cup, he remains among the bookmakers' top five favourites for the award, alongside Harry Kane, Lamine Yamal, Kylian Mbappé and Lionel Messi. The 70th Ballon d'Or will be awarded Monday 26 October from 21:00.