Khvicha Kvaratskhelia has expressed his heartbreak after suffering a serious knee injury during Paris Saint Germain’s Champions League victory over Barcelona.
The Georgian winger suffered a ruptured anterior cruciate ligament in his right knee during Tuesday’s 4-2 win. He now faces surgery and a lengthy recovery that could rule him out for the rest of the 2026 to 2027 season.
The 25 year old sustained the injury following a collision with Barcelona youngster Xavi Espart in the 59th minute. He needed help to leave the pitch as PSG dealt with another injury setback.
The French club confirmed that Kvaratskhelia will undergo surgery in the coming days. Recovery from an ACL injury often takes at least nine months, although his exact return date remains uncertain.
Kvaratskhelia shared his frustration in an emotional Instagram post. He said he had prepared especially well for the Barcelona match and never expected to suffer such an injury.
“Before every game, I asked God to let me leave the pitch healthy – but in vain,” Kvaratskhelia wrote. “Not much time has passed, yet one thought keeps circling in my head: why me? I never held anything back.
“I probably prepared for this game the best I have ever prepared. I thought I was ready for everything, but not for this.”
Kvaratskhelia vows to return stronger
Despite the disappointment, Kvaratskhelia has already set his sights on recovery. The former Napoli star said he was ready to face the hard work, pain and emotional challenges that come with rehabilitation.
“I realise that God chose me, and if by this I protected the other players on the pitch, I am ready to go through these coming months in hard work, pain, and tears,” he added in his social media address. “I know I have to come back stronger for my people, who always have my back. I won’t let you down, I promise I won’t waste a single second. Thank you all for the support, see you soon.”
His absence comes at a difficult time for PSG, who also lost Ousmane Dembele and captain Marquinhos during the Barcelona match.
Ballon d’Or winner Dembele lasted only 19 minutes before leaving with a left thigh problem. Meanwhile, Marquinhos suffered a right thigh injury. Both players are expected to miss several weeks.
PSG remain top of the Champions League league phase after beating Barcelona 4-2. However, the injuries leave manager Luis Enrique with key decisions to make as the season continues.
The European champions now turn their attention to a major domestic test. They travel to face Ligue 1 leaders Lyon on Sunday, with the contest set to challenge their squad depth following the latest injury setbacks.
