When will Kvaratskhelia return? His ACL injury explained
PSG have set no return date, but an ACL rupture usually means nine months out. What Kvaratskhelia will miss, and what it means for Georgia.
13-1. That is PSG's aggregate score in the three matches since Khvicha Kvaratskhelia went down: Lyon 2-0, Le Havre 5-1, Villarreal 6-0.
Georgia have not scored in four Nations League matches, including the ones he played. From 14 November they will have to try without him.
What happened against Barcelona?
Early in the second half Kvaratskhelia sprinted back to tackle Xavi Espart and landed badly on his right leg. He could not put weight on it and was replaced in the 59th minute of PSG's 4-2 win.
The next day the club confirmed a ruptured anterior cruciate ligament in his right knee. Surgery followed in late October at the Aspetar clinic in Doha. PSG called it a success and said rehabilitation would now begin.
When will Kvaratskhelia return?
There is no official date. PSG have not put a timeline on it.
CBS Sports and USA Today both put the usual absence for this injury at about nine months or longer. Counted from the operation, nine months runs to late July 2027. PSG's last Ligue 1 match on the current schedule is against Toulouse on 29 May.
His season is very likely over.
What will he miss with Georgia?
First, the last two Nations League games: Hungary at home on 14 November and Ukraine away on 17 November.
The Euro 2028 qualifying draw is in Belfast on 6 December, with matches starting in March 2027. If the nine-month estimate holds, Ramaz Svanadze will open the campaign without him.
Will PSG sign a replacement?
Luis Enrique has been blunt.
The coverage we reviewed names no target. CBS Sports reports that the coach has praised Maghnes Akliouche for his ability to play across the front line. At Villarreal, Akliouche, Desire Doue and Senny Mayulu were all in the starting XI.
Are PSG missing him?
Not in the tables. They top the Champions League with 4 wins, 12 points and a 20-5 goal record. In Ligue 1 they have 20 points from 9 games, 2 clear of Lille.
Three games is a small sample, though. Ousmane Dembele and Marquinhos also came out of the Barcelona match needing weeks of treatment, and neither started at Villarreal. The harder Champions League tests come against Roma on 25 November and Aston Villa on 8 December.
What has Kvaratskhelia said?
He went into the injury with 29 goals and 20 assists in 91 PSG games, 11 of them this season. On 26 October in London he finished sixth in the Ballon d'Or voting, the best of any PSG player.
Cristiano Ronaldo wrote to him: "Keep that fire on. Your best is still to come."
On 14 November Svanadze needs to end a run of four games without a goal, with a maximum of 6 points left to play for.