Credits: X/@PSG_inside

Who Is Khvicha Kvaratskhelia Idol? Know the Iconic Player the PSG Star Idolizes

In January 2025, PSG paid Napoli €70 million to bring Georgian winger Khvicha Kvaratskhelia to Parc des Princes.

Credits: X/@PSG_inside

In the span of just a few months, Khvicha Kvaratskhelia has gone from Napoli’s breakout star to a vital cog in Paris Saint-Germain’s attack. His move to PSG in January 2025 has coincided with the French club’s surge in form, culminating in a Ligue 1 title win and a ticket to the UEFA Champions League final. Since his arrival, the 24-year-old Georgian winger has adapted seamlessly to life in Paris.

Kvaratskhelia’s confidence on the ball and tactical maturity have earned him a regular spot in Luis Enrique’s starting XI. With six goals and five assists in 24 appearances, he’s injected pace, skill and unpredictability into PSG’s attack. His standout performances in the Champions League knockout stages have been instrumental in PSG progressing to the final.

Who Is PSG Star Khvicha Kvaratskhelia’s Idol?

But beyond the pitch, Kvaratskhelia’s story is filled with ambition and deep-rooted inspirations. In a recent interview with Rio Ferdinand on the Rio Ferdinand Presents YouTube channel, the Georgian star opened up about a figure who has shaped his mindset and career from afar – Cristiano Ronaldo.

Growing up in Georgia, Kvaratskhelia often studied Ronaldo’s game, watching hours of footage, mimicking his movements, and admiring the Portuguese star’s unwavering commitment to professionalism.

🎙️Khvicha Kvaratskhelia: “My idol is Cristiano Ronaldo.” pic.twitter.com/eQEWSwOhif
— TCR. (@TeamCRonaldo) February 27, 2023

It wasn’t just from YouTube clips that Kvaratskhelia drew inspiration. In 2013, he had the surreal opportunity to meet Ronaldo in person when the five-time Ballon d’Or winner visited the Dinamo Tbilisi academy, where Kvaratskhelia trained as a child. That encounter planted the seeds of a dream. One that, a decade later, he would fulfill on the international stage.

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In an interview in 2022, Kvaratskhelia said,

“Cristiano Ronaldo [is my role model]. Even though my first love was Guti from Real Madrid. When I played with friends in Tbilisi, my city, we wore white shirts. I wrote his name on my back.”

What did you learn from watching Cristiano Ronaldo?

Khvicha Kvaratskhelia:

“I think professionalism. He was the main character for me because everyone knows he is one of the best players in history.

But the way he lives is what I took and learned from him, and many things but… pic.twitter.com/2rNA5JdmUj
— Al Nassr Zone (@TheNassrZone) May 23, 2025

The Rise of Khvicha Kvaratskhelia

Fast forward to the summer of 2024 at the UEFA European Championship, and Kvaratskhelia’s dream came full circle. In a highly anticipated group-stage clash between Georgia and Portugal, the young winger not only faced his idol but helped Georgia pull off a historic 2–0 upset. It was a storybook moment for a player who once stood in line for Ronaldo’s autograph. The result marked Georgia’s first win over a European football powerhouse and booked their place in the Round of 16 for the first time in the tournament’s history.

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In 2013, Ronaldo opened a football academy in Georgia, and one of the children there was Kvaratskhelia.🇬🇪🇵🇹

Tonight, Kvaratskhelia scored in the first minute vs Portugal…🤯

What a story!🤩 pic.twitter.com/3M1BzalFBr
— The 44 ⚽️ (@The_Forty_Four) June 26, 2024

After scoring in Georgia’s win over Cristiano Ronaldo’s Portugal at the EURO 2024, Kvaratskhelia told FIFA:

“The match against Portugal in the Euros was the most important game. I was playing against the player that I followed and idolised since I was a young kid. Before the game I said to myself ‘this is my moment’ and I knew I needed to show that on the pitch. Playing against your idol is a huge motivation. It was incredible. He came to me and wished me good luck. I was over the moon and even more convinced that Georgia would win. I gave everything that evening and I helped my team to achieve a historic result.”

Since then, Kvaratskhelia’s rise has only accelerated. Having already been named Serie A’s Player of the Season in 2023 for leading Napoli to a long-awaited Scudetto, his stock skyrocketed. In January 2025, PSG paid €70 million to bring him to Parc des Princes. He quickly slotted into Enrique’s high-tempo system, providing not just attacking threat but also a work ethic and positional intelligence that belies his age.

Now, with a Champions League final looming against Inter Milan, all eyes will once again be on Kvaratskhelia. If he can deliver on that stage, his evolution from Ronaldo’s young fanboy to lifting the iconic Champions League trophy will be complete.

Champions League Final

Cristiano Ronaldo

Khvicha Kvaratskhelia

PSG

Abhinav Goel

soccer

I am a soccer writer at The PlayOffs, covering everything from match analysis to transfer buzz and tactical deep dives. Ever since I was a kid, soccer has been more than just a sport to me—it’s been an obsession. Playing and watching the game from a young age fueled my passion, eventually leading me into the world of sports media and betting. Now, I get to analyze the sport I love and bring the latest updates to fans worldwide.