By Martin Graham
Khvicha Kvaratskhelia has become one of Europe’s most exciting attacking creators, but away from the pitch, the Paris St-Germain winger keeps a modest lifestyle. Despite his growing reputation, the Georgia international says he still sees himself as an ordinary person who stays connected to his family and background.
The 25-year-old has been one of PSG’s standout performers in the Champions League this season. In nine matches he has contributed seven goals in total, scoring four and providing three assists, making him the club’s leading scorer and the player with the most goal involvements in the competition.
His journey began in Tbilisi, in a typical Soviet-era apartment building that blends into the surrounding neighborhood. The building is plain and weathered, like many others in the district, and gives little indication that an international football star grew up there.
Inside, however, the family home reflects the story of his career. Photographs, trophies, and shirts fill the space, including the first jersey he wore for Dinamo Tbilisi. For his mother, Maka, that shirt represents the starting point of his path toward the top level of the sport.
Kvaratskhelia was born on 12 February 2001, and football quickly became central to his life. His mother remembers that he spent nearly every moment with a ball, whether walking or sleeping, showing from an early age how important the game was to him.
His father, Badri, a former Dinamo Tbilisi player who also represented Azerbaijan internationally, saw his son take the first steps of his professional career with the Dinamo academy. Kvaratskhelia made his senior debut at just 16 years old in 2017.
After that initial breakthrough, he moved to Rustavi and later joined Lokomotiv Moscow on loan. That move provided his first significant earnings as a professional footballer, money he used to fund life-saving heart surgery for his father.
In May 2019 he celebrated his first major trophy when Lokomotiv Moscow lifted the Russian Cup. Soon after, he joined Rubin Kazan, where he spent three seasons and twice received the award for the best young player in the Russian league.
Career breakthrough and move to PSG
Kvaratskhelia’s time in Russia ended after the invasion of Ukraine, when FIFA allowed foreign players to suspend their contracts and sign temporarily with clubs outside the country. He returned to Georgia and joined Dinamo Batumi.
The stay proved brief. In July 2022 Napoli signed him for a reported £9.5 million. His performances in Italy quickly turned him into a fan favourite, playing a key role in Napoli’s first Serie A title in 33 years and earning the nickname “Kvaradona”.
His rise continued in January 2025 when he moved to Paris St-Germain for £59 million plus add-ons, becoming the first Georgian player in the club’s history. During his time with the French side, he helped the team complete a treble, including PSG’s first Champions League triumph, scoring in the final.
On the field he is known as a direct and inventive dribbler. His ability developed through training in tight spaces as a youngster and is supported by targeted strength work, reaction drills, and repeated finishing practice, particularly when cutting inside from the left side.
Inspiration, family life and Georgian pride
Like many players of his generation, Kvaratskhelia grew up admiring Cristiano Ronaldo. He also studies past stars such as Ronaldinho, watching old footage and attempting to reproduce their moves during training sessions.
Coaches have also influenced his development. He credits former Napoli manager Antonio Conte with helping him improve defensively, something he continues to work on under PSG coach Luis Enrique.
Away from football, he follows the NBA closely and names Kobe Bryant and Kevin Durant among the athletes he admires. He says he enjoys high-pressure matches because they offer players the chance to show their character.
Despite his growing fame, he maintains a private personal life. He began dating Georgian medical student Nitsa Tavadze in 2021, and the couple held a traditional wedding ceremony at the Samtavro monastery in Mtskheta in October 2023. Their son, Damiane, was born in Tbilisi on 21 August 2024.
Friends describe him as generous and grounded, someone who remains deeply connected to his homeland. Kvaratskhelia says representing Georgia means a great deal to him, and he hopes his success shows young people in the country that reaching the highest level of football is possible.