Kvaratskhelia named Champions League's best player; Mbappé misses ideal team

Paris Saint-Germain's Khvicha Kvaratskhelia has been recognized as the best player of the 2025/26 Champions League season, capping a stellar individual performance.

The 25-year-old Georgian forward was instrumental for his team, netting ten goals and contributing seven assists across 16 matches. His direct involvement in 17 goals led the entire competition, underscoring his impact on the field.

Following the announcement of the best player, the ideal team of the season was also revealed. This selection heavily features players from PSG, with five representatives including Kvaratskhelia, Marquinhos, Nuno Mendes, Vitinha, and Ousmane Dembele. Runners-up Arsenal also have three players in the lineup: David Raya, Declan Rice, and Gabriel Magalhães.

The complete ideal team consists of Raya; Marcos Llorente, Gabriel, Marquinhos, Nuno Mendes; Rice, Vitinha, Michael Olise; Kvaratskhelia, Dembele, and Harry Kane. Notably absent from this prestigious selection is Kylian Mbappé, the tournament's leading scorer with an impressive 15 goals. Despite his prolific scoring record, Mbappé's exclusion comes after his team, Real Madrid, was eliminated in the quarterfinals by Bayern. While he set a high scoring benchmark, only Kvaratskhelia surpassed his total goal contributions.