PSG’s Khvicha Kvaratskhelia to have surgery after ACL rupture
The winger injured his right knee in Tuesday’s Champions League win over Barcelona. A season-ending absence is considered likely, while two teammates also face weeks of treatment.
Paris Saint-Germain winger Khvicha Kvaratskhelia ruptured the anterior cruciate ligament in his right knee during Tuesday’s 4-2 Champions League win over Barcelona in Paris and will undergo surgery in the coming days, The Independent reported on 21 October. The injury is likely to keep the 25-year-old out for the rest of the season, although PSG has not given a recovery timetable.
Kvaratskhelia appeared to twist his knee and was helped off shortly before the hour mark, unable to put weight on his right leg. Reuters also reported the ACL rupture and surgery plan. The diagnosis turns an injury suffered during a major European win into a potentially prolonged absence for PSG’s attack.
Three PSG players injured against Barcelona
Kvaratskhelia was one of three PSG players to leave the match injured. Ousmane Dembélé went off in the first half with thigh discomfort; The Korea Herald placed his exit in the 20th minute. Captain Marquinhos was substituted in the second half with a similar injury, according to Reuters. PSG said Dembélé and Marquinhos would remain under treatment for the next few weeks, without specifying return dates.
Barcelona also lost Dani Olmo in the 27th minute after he felt discomfort in his ankle, The Korea Herald reported. The match was Barcelona’s first defeat of the season: the team had won all 11 of its previous competitive games, including two Champions League fixtures. PSG’s victory extended its own perfect start in the competition to three wins from three.
What the injury means for PSG’s Champions League campaign
The Korea Herald reported that PSG had scored 14 goals and conceded five across those three Champions League matches, leaving the defending European champion alone at the top of the league-phase standings. It also recorded a seven-match winning run in all competitions. Those results show the form PSG must try to sustain while Kvaratskhelia prepares for surgery and two other starters receive treatment.
The Independent identified Kvaratskhelia as last season’s Champions League player of the season after PSG won a second consecutive European title. Its assessment that he is unlikely to play again this season makes the injury especially consequential for a side seeking a third straight title. The surgery is planned for the coming days; PSG’s reported update did not set a date for his return.
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Sources and context
- PSG rocked as Khvicha Kvaratskhelia suffers season-ending ACL injuryThe Independent (Jamie Braidwood; carried by Yahoo Sports)
- Khvicha Kvaratskhelia sustains ACL rupture in most serious of three PSG injuriesThe Guardian (Reuters report; dateline 21 October 2026, 11:42 CEST)
- Barcelona suffers first loss of season, falls 4-2 to PSGThe Korea Herald
AI-assisted article checked against the listed sources. NewsJaws did not conduct interviews or attend the reported events.