Khvicha Kvaratskhelia is a Georgian left winger. He plays for Paris Saint-Germain and captains the Georgia national team. He was born on February 12, 2001. He started his senior career at Dinamo Tbilisi when he was 16, then moved to Rustavi for half a season. He then spent time at Lokomotiv Moscow and Rubin Kazan in Russia, where he won the Russian Premier League Best Young Player award two years in a row.
After a short spell at Dinamo Batumi, he signed with Napoli in Italy in 2022. In his first season, he helped Napoli win their first Serie A title since 1990. He was named Serie A’s Most Valuable Player and the Champions League’s Young Player of the Season.
In January 2025, he joined PSG for €70 million. He became a key player immediately, and the club won a continental treble in his first season: the league, cup, and Champions League all in one season. He also scored in the Champions League final. The following season, he won a second Champions League title and was named the tournament’s best player.
Top 10 Things You Didn’t Know About Khvicha Kvaratskhelia
He Used Apples to Protect His Footballs
As a boy, Khvicha Kvaratskhelia would spend summers in his family’s hometown of Tsalenjikha, playing football in the yard. The iron gate had sharp, decorative spikes that kept bursting his footballs. He used to pluck apples from a nearby tree and place them on each spike. The apples cushioned the impact, allowing the ball to rebound harmlessly.
His First Salary Saved His Father’s Life
Kvaratskhelia’s father, Badri, was a former professional player who had a huge influence on his career. When Khvicha was starting out, Badri became dangerously ill and needed emergency heart surgery the family couldn’t afford. Khvicha Kvaratskhelia’s first significant salary at Lokomotiv Moscow paid for the life-saving operation. His father later said: “It wasn’t even a question to him.”
His Mother Made a VHS Tape of His Father’s Career
With Badri often away playing in Azerbaijan, Khvicha Kvaratskhelia’s mother Maka made a homemade VHS tape of his father’s matches. The cassette showed Badri scoring a hat-trick in Champions League qualifying. Young Khvicha would watch it obsessively and practise his father’s free-kicks over and over again. A VHS tape tha inspired a star.
He Couldn’t Afford Away Games as a Kid
Khvicha Kvaratskhelia grew up poor in Georgia. While he shone for his local team during home games, he would often be absent from away fixtures because his family couldn’t afford the travel. Despite this, his parents continued to support his love for football. A reminder that talent alone isn’t enough, support matters too.
He Was an Unknown When He Signed for Napoli
When Napoli signed Khvicha Kvaratskhelia from Dinamo Batumi in July 2022 for around €10-15 million, he was a complete unknown. Supporters barely knew how to pronounce his name, and videos popped up on YouTube and TikTok just to guide them. A nobody who became a legend in record time.
Earned the Nickname ‘Kvaradona’ Within Months
Despite arriving as a nobody, Kvaratskhelia’s dazzling dribbling quickly won over Napoli’s fans. Within months, they had nicknamed him “Kvaradona,” the ultimate compliment in a city where Diego Maradona is still considered a god. A nickname that carries the weight of a city’s history and hope.
Made His Professional Debut at Just 16
Kvaratskhelia’s rise was rapid. He came through the Dinamo Tbilisi academy and made his professional debut in Georgia’s top division at just 16 years old in 2017. The start of a journey that would take him from Georgia to Russia, Italy, and eventually France. A prodigy from the very beginning.
Married a Medical Student in a Monastery
Kvaratskhelia married Nitsa Tavadze, whom he started dating in 2021. She was a medical university student when they met. The couple tied the knot in October 2023 in Georgia. They welcomed their first child, a son named Damiane, in August 2024. A love story rooted in tradition.
Sang Maradona’s Anthem at His Napoli Initiation
During his initiation ceremony at Napoli, Kvaratskhelia sang Opus’s “Live Is Life.” The song forever associated with Diego Maradona’s famous pre-match warm-up against Bayern Munich in 1989. A fitting tribute that immediately endeared him to the fans and helped cement his “Kvaradona” status.
A Devout Orthodox Christian
Kvaratskhelia’s faith is a foundational part of his identity. He is a devout Orthodox Christian. The faith is deeply connected to his Georgian roots and national culture. This grounding has helped him stay humble. Faith, family, and football are the three pillars of his life.
FAQs
Q. Which club does Khvicha Kvaratskhelia play for?
A. Kvaratskhelia plays for Paris Saint-Germain.
Q. Which country does Khvicha Kvaratskhelia captain?
A. Kvaratskhelia captains the Georgia national team.
Q. Which club did Kvaratskhelia join in 2022?
A. Kvaratskhelia joined Napoli in 2022.
Q. What did Napoli win in Kvaratskhelia’s first season?
A. Napoli won the Serie A title.
Q. What did PSG achieve in Kvaratskhelia’s first season?
A. PSG won a continental treble.
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