Kvaratskhelia injured as Dembélé and Marquinhos leave the pitch
On Tuesday evening, during the third‑round league phase match of the Champions League between Paris Saint‑Germain and FC Barcelona, Khvicha Kvaratskhelia had to leave the pitch injured, a few minutes after the departure of Ousmane Dembélé and at the same time as Marquinhos.
Confirmed injury and planned surgery
Reports place the Georgian's fall between the 59th minute and the first 13 minutes of the second half, after a tackle by Xavi Espart. The diagnosis confirmed a rupture of the anterior cruciate ligament of the right knee, requiring surgery in the coming days. An MRI performed on Wednesday confirmed the severity of the injury.
Emotional message from the Georgian
In a long message posted on his social media, Khvicha Kvaratskhelia wrote: “Many people asked me a lot of questions before the match… before every match, I ask God to let me leave the pitch healthy. In vain. It hasn’t been long, but it’s always on my mind: why me, actually?” He added that he was ready to go through “those months of work, pain and tears” and promised to return stronger for his people.
Impact on PSG's campaign
The club said the player will be absent for many months, with the prospect of missing the rest of the 2026/27 season according to the daily AS. An ACL rupture usually entails an absence of at least nine months, casting doubt on his presence this season. Kvaratskhelia, former Napoli player and 2026 Ballon d’Or candidate, had been voted the best player of the Champions League the previous season.
Besides Kvaratskhelia, PSG confirmed muscular injuries for Ousmane Dembélé and Marquinhos. Dembélé left the match in the 20th minute of the first half with a problem in his left thigh, while Marquinhos was taken off in the 14th minute of the second half with a right‑thigh injury, replaced by Illia Zabarnyi.
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Club's offensive options
The Parisians spent over $350 million this summer on the sales of Gonçalo Ramos, Lee Kang‑in, Randal Kolo Muani, Bradley Barcola and Ibrahim Mbaye, then signed Maghnes Akliouche, Ferran Torres and Mika Godts, each for around $50 million. Akliouche, 24, has two goals and one assist in 11 appearances and has received Luis Enrique’s praise for his versatility. Torres, 26, has already scored seven goals for the Parisians, while Godts has only made one start, against Le Mans.
The usual trio of Kvaratskhelia, Dembélé and Desire Doué will have to be reshuffled, which complicates minute management for Luis Enrique, already concerned about the fatigue of his key players in Ligue 1.
Upcoming fixtures
PSG will face Lyon on Sunday in Ligue 1 before traveling to Villarreal on November 3 in the Champions League, where they will need to maintain a 100 percent success rate in the competition. The loss of Kvaratskhelia, Dembélé and Marquinhos makes the task harder to keep the attack fresh.
Ballon d'Or forces PSG to postpone their clash with Lyon
Despite the seriousness of the situation, the player concluded his message by assuring: “I won’t let you down, I will come back stronger and thank you for your support.” He hopes to return before the end of the season.