Hamann names Kvaratskhelia world's best player ahead of Ballon d'Or nominees

Dietmar Hamann has named Khvicha Kvaratskhelia the world’s best player in an interview with German newspaper Die Welt, ahead of the announcement of the 30 nominees for the 2026 Ballon d’Or scheduled for Tuesday.

“With Khvicha Kvaratskhelia, PSG arguably possesses the best player in the world right now,” says the former midfielder, who won the Ligue des Champions with Liverpool in 2004-2005. The German adds to his praise by citing Ousmane Dembélé, “named world’s best player last year,” and Marquinhos, whom he describes as an exemplary captain.

When asked about the favorites for the next Ligue des Champions, Hamann places PSG, the defending champions, “a notch above” a group of five including Bayern Munich, Arsenal, FC Barcelona and Real Madrid. He even goes so far as to say that in a hypothetical clash between the Paris club and World Cup champion Spain, he “would bet on PSG,” arguing that the Ligue des Champions surpasses the World Cup on a footballing level.

This stance comes at a favorable moment for Kvaratskhelia in the Ballon d’Or race. The Georgian winger does, however, face a structural handicap: Georgia’s absence from the 2026 World Cup deprives him of visibility on the most-watched international stage. A criterion that, in World Cup years, traditionally weighs on the deliberation.

Despite this, his performances in the Ligue des Champions with PSG appear to have been enough to convince seasoned observers like Hamann. The official list of 30 nominees, expected as early as Tuesday, will reveal whether voters share this view.