The PSG Star Toni Kroos Believes Deserved the 2026 Ballon d'Or
For the Real Madrid legend, neither Harry Kane, Kylian Mbappé nor Lamine Yamal made his top picks. Here are all the details.
The 2026 Ballon d'Or sparked divided opinions, even among football's biggest names. One of them was Toni Kroos, who revealed that his choice for the sport's most prestigious individual award would not have been Harry Kane, but rather a player from Paris Saint-Germain.
KHVICHA KVARATSKHELIA WAS KROOS' TOP PICK
Speaking on the podcast he co-hosts with his brother Felix, the former German midfielder explained that Khvicha Kvaratskhelia would have been his Ballon d'Or winner based on his performances throughout the season, particularly in the Champions League.
In Kroos' view, the Georgian winger was the standout player for Europe's best team. His argument was backed by Kvaratskhelia's key role in PSG's successful defense of their Champions League title, during which he recorded 10 goals and seven assists in 16 appearances.
The choice raised eyebrows, as Kvaratskhelia finished sixth in the Ballon d'Or voting, just outside the top five.
"If I had to choose the Ballon d'Or winner, my pick would have been Kvaratskhelia. If we look exclusively at performances throughout the season, I think he is a very interesting candidate because he was the best player on the best team in Europe, especially during the Champions League," the former Real Madrid player said on his podcast with his brother Felix.
KROOS ALSO PRAISED KANE AND LUIS DÍAZ
The 2014 World Cup winner with Germany believed the Georgian winger had a strong case for finishing higher in the rankings, although he acknowledged the influence of the World Cup on the final outcome.
In fact, the former Real Madrid midfielder also included Luis Díaz and Harry Kane among his three leading candidates for the award.
"I think he would have had a very good chance of finishing higher, because his final position, sixth, shows that he had a strong case to be among the best, even without having played in the World Cup. In fact, my three favorites would have been Luis Díaz, Harry Kane and Kvaratskhelia."
Ultimately, the English striker claimed the 2026 Ballon d'Or, finishing ahead of Kylian Mbappé, Lamine Yamal, Rodri and Lionel Messi. However, in Kroos' eyes, Kvaratskhelia's performances for PSG deserved even greater recognition.
KHVICHA KVARATSKHELIA UPDATE: UNDERGOES SURGERY AND FACES MONTHS ON THE SIDELINES
Khvicha Kvaratskhelia's current situation has been overshadowed by a serious injury. The Georgian winger suffered a rupture of the anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) in his right knee during PSG's 4-2 victory over Barcelona on October 20 in the Champions League.
The 25-year-old successfully underwent surgery on October 27 in Doha, Qatar, and will now begin his rehabilitation process, Paris Saint-Germain confirmed.
Although the club has not announced an official return date, he is expected to miss the remainder of the 2026-27 season.
This represents a major blow for Luis Enrique, who loses one of his key attacking players following a campaign in which Kvaratskhelia played a decisive role in PSG's Champions League triumph.
TONI KROOS' THREE KEY BALLON D'OR TAKEAWAYS
- KVARATSKHELIA WAS HIS BALLON D'OR PICK: Kroos believed the Georgian deserved to win the award based on his performances for PSG.
- SIXTH PLACE IN THE VOTING: Despite winning the Champions League, the winger finished outside the top five.
- KANE, LUIS DÍAZ AND KVARATSKHELIA: These were the three players who made up the former German midfielder's shortlist.
Khvicha Kvaratskhelia
Paris Saint-Germain FC
