Real Madrid icon Toni Kroos has weighed in on the 2026 Ballon d’Or race, dismissing the candidacies of superstars like Lionel Messi and Kylian Mbappe in favor of Paris Saint-Germain forward Khvicha Kvaratskhelia. While Kroos acknowledged that the 25-year-old’s chances of securing the trophy remain slim, he firmly labeled the Georgian winger as the “number 1” candidate, pointing to what he described as “average” club seasons for his more high-profile competitors.
Kvaratskhelia’s case for the award is built on a highly productive campaign with PSG, where he was instrumental in the club’s successful defense of their European crown. The winger recorded 19 goals and 11 assists across 48 appearances in all competitions. His impact was particularly notable in the UEFA Champions League, where he tallied 10 goals and seven assists in just 16 matches. Beyond the continental success, his contributions helped the Parisians secure the Ligue 1 title, the UEFA Super Cup, the Intercontinental Cup, and the French Super Cup.
Despite these achievements, Kvaratskhelia faces stiff competition from a crowded field that includes Harry Kane, Lamine Yamal, Rodri, and the veteran Lionel Messi. Although the 39-year-old Messi was initially considered an outsider to challenge players in their prime, his performance at the 2026 FIFA World Cup forced his way back into the conversation. Messi’s tournament began with a hat-trick against Algeria, followed by a brace against Austria and a goal against Jordan during the group stage.
The Argentine captain continued his influence into the knockout rounds, contributing two additional goals and four assists to lead his nation to the final, where they ultimately fell 1-0 to Spain. Kroos, however, maintains that Kvaratskhelia’s consistent output at the club level warrants higher recognition than the displays provided by Messi, Mbappe, Jude Bellingham, or Rodri, even with their respective performances on the international stage. The football world now awaits the official Ballon d’Or rankings, which are scheduled to be released in October. The report also notes that speaking to the media recently as reported by Florian Malburg (via Barca Universal ), Kroos backed Kvaratskhelia to claim the Ballon d’Or following his incredible outing with PSG last season, although he conceded that the likelihood of it happening is very slim. The report also notes that at 39 years old, Lionel Messi wasn’t expected to challenge the present crop of players, who are at their peak, for the Ballon d’Or this year. The report also notes that however, the Argentine managed to put himself back in the race for football’s most coveted individual award courtesy of an outstanding 2026 FIFA World Cup campaign.
