The key facts
- Kvaratskhelia injured his right knee on 20 October after a collision with Héctor (Xavi) Espart and left the pitch in the 59th minute
- According to L’Équipe, PSG fear an anterior cruciate ligament tear; physiotherapist Ángel Villanueva suggests a possible nine-month layoff
- An MRI is scheduled for 21 October; meanwhile PSG beat Barcelona 4:2
Injury in the match against Barcelona
25-year-old Paris Saint-Germain winger Khvicha Kvaratskhelia suffered a serious right knee injury on 20 October in the Champions League match against Barcelona. The injury occurred after a collision with the Catalans' defender Xavi Espart: the player fell to the turf and was unable to get up on his own due to severe pain. He was substituted in the 59th minute, and medical staff helped him leave the pitch.
Fear of an ACL tear
According to L’Équipe, the club fear a tear of the anterior cruciate ligament, which could rule the forward out for the rest of the season. An MRI has been scheduled for 21 October to determine the severity of the injury. Sports physiotherapist Ángel Villanueva, after studying video footage of the incident, suggested damage to two knee ligaments at once and estimated the risk of a nine-month layoff. If the fears are confirmed, Kvaratskhelia may require surgery.
PSG won without three players
Despite losing one of their leaders, the Parisians beat Barcelona 4:2 in the third round of the Champions League league phase. Besides Kvaratskhelia, Ousmane Dembélé and Marquinhos also left the match early due to injuries.
Background
Earlier, Kvaratskhelia was named the best player of the 2025/26 season in the Champions League: he played 16 matches, scored ten goals and provided six assists. In the final against London's Arsenal, he won a penalty, which Ousmane Dembélé converted; PSG won the penalty shootout 4:3 after a 1:1 draw in regular time, taking the trophy for the second year in a row. Before joining PSG, the Georgian forward played for Napoli, Lokomotiv Moscow and Rubin Kazan.
