# PSG duo Dembele and Kvaratskhelia share Ballon d'Or hopes

> PSG's Dembele and Kvaratskhelia jokingly split Ballon d'Or prize after Champions League title win
- Title: PSG duo Dembele and Kvaratskhelia share Ballon d'Or hopes
- Summary: PSG's Dembele and Kvaratskhelia jokingly split Ballon d'Or prize after Champions League title win Dembele and Kvaratskhelia both believe they deserve the…
- Keywords: psg, dembele, kvaratskhelia, ballon dor, champions league, ferran torres, lamine yamal, kylian mbappe, real madrid, bayern munich, messi, world cup
- Source: BBC Sport — https://bbc.co.uk/sport/football/articles/c3qjk1qd1wx0o
- Published: 2026-09-24T19:02:33.055+00:00
- Read time: 1 min
- Topics: psg, dembele, kvaratskhelia, ballon dor, champions league, ferran torres, lamine yamal, kylian mbappe, real madrid, bayern munich, messi, world cup
## Ballon d'Or shortlist
PSG has 10 players on the 2026 Ballon d'Or shortlist, including Dembele and Kvaratskhelia.
## Dembele and Kvaratskhelia
The pair joked about splitting the Ballon d'Or prize, with Dembele saying Kvaratskhelia deserves it for his exceptional season.

> We can cut it in two
## Kvaratskhelia's season
Kvaratskhelia scored 10 goals and provided 6 assists in the Champions League, becoming the first player to score or assist in seven consecutive knockout appearances.
## Kvaratskhelia's background
Kvaratskhelia moved from Georgia to Napoli after Russia's invasion of Ukraine, where he was a hero during Napoli's 2022-23 title campaign.
## Dembele's impact
Dembele scored 31 goals and assists for PSG, with a 1.27 goal contribution per 90 minutes, the best in Europe's top five leagues.
## Kvaratskhelia's motivation
Kvaratskhelia wants to make his family and country proud after winning the Ballon d'Or, which he says is impossible for a small country like Georgia.
## PSG's Ballon d'Or race
PSG's Dembele and Kvaratskhelia are the top contenders for the 2026 Ballon d'Or, with Kvaratskhelia named Champions League best player last season.
## Other contenders
Harry Kane, Lamine Yamal, and Rodri are also in the running for the Ballon d'Or, with Kane leading the shortlist with 61 goals in 51 games.
## Ballon d'Or history
The Ballon d'Or celebrates its 70th anniversary, with the 2026 winner to be announced in London on 26 October.
## Kvaratskhelia's idol
Kvaratskhelia cites Cristiano Ronaldo as his biggest inspiration, with his work-rate and winning mentality similar to the Portuguese star.
## Key takeaway

Dembele and Kvaratskhelia both believe they deserve the Ballon d'Or, with Kvaratskhelia citing Dembele's exceptional season and Dembele praising Kvaratskhelia's impact.