Paris St-Germain winger Khvicha Kvaratskhelia will have surgery after tearing the anterior cruciate ligament in his knee during Tuesday's 4-2 Champions League victory over Barcelona, according to BBC reporting.
The 25-year-old picked up the injury in a challenge with Xavi Espart and could not bear weight on his right leg when he came off in the 59th minute at Parc des Princes.
Why it matters
Kvaratskhelia has been a key figure for PSG since arriving from Napoli in January 2025, and BBC notes he helped the club win consecutive Champions League titles. Losing him to a ruptured ACL removes one of the holders' main attacking threats for a significant stretch of the season.
The timing compounds the problem. PSG also confirmed that Ousmane Dembele and Marquinhos will miss a few weeks each, with Dembele limping off due to a left thigh problem and Marquinhos picking up a right thigh injury. Three senior players sidelined at once leaves the squad noticeably thinner as the fixture list tightens.
A costly night despite the result
The scoreline alone would have pleased PSG. The sides were locked at 2-2 going into the last ten minutes before the hosts struck twice late to keep their perfect start to the defence of their European crown. Three wins from three matches puts them top of the Champions League table, per BBC.
The injury list takes some shine off that position. Kvaratskhelia's substitution was forced rather than tactical, and the sight of him unable to put weight on the leg pointed to a serious problem before the club's confirmation. Surgery on a ruptured ACL typically means a long absence, though PSG has not indicated a recovery timeline in the reporting so far.
For Barcelona, the late collapse turned a competitive away performance into a defeat. Espart's challenge on Kvaratskhelia was part of a physical contest that ended with the visitors conceding twice in the closing stages.
What to watch
PSG's next fixtures will show how the coaching staff reshuffles the attack without Kvaratskhelia, Dembele and Marquinhos, and the club's medical update after surgery should clarify how long its winger is expected to be out.
