Considered by many to be Ousmane Dembélé’s (29) heir apparent, set to add his name to the prestigious list of Ballon d’Or winners, can Kvicha Kvaratskhelia (25) truly claim the title as 2026 draws to a close? For French football legend David Trezeguet, the time may not yet have come for the Georgian, though he nevertheless predicts a bright future for him.

“He has everything it takes to become a Ballon d’Or winner in the future,” says Trezeguet in an interview with Le Parisien. For the man who finished 12th in the rankings in 2001, Kvaratskhelia’s lack of success with his national team may well have cost him valuable points.

“He’s a unique player, but he wasn’t able to show that at the World Cup,” the Frenchman lamented. Finishing third in their World Cup qualifying group, Georgia ended up well behind Spain and Turkey, winning just one of their six qualifying matches.