After establishing himself among Europe's elite, the Paris Saint-Germain winger appeared destined to shine on soccer's biggest stage. Instead, he will be forced to watch from afar as the world's leading national team competes for the most prestigious trophy in the sport. With the 2026 World Cup just around the corner, several of soccer’s biggest stars are preparing for what could be defining moments in their careers. Yet one of the game’s most exciting attacking talents, Khvicha Kvaratskhelia, will not be among those taking center stage when the tournament begins in the United States, Canada, and Mexico. The absence comes as a surprise to many casual fans, given the extraordinary campaign Kvaratskhelia has just completed. After establishing himself among Europe’s elite, the Paris Saint-Germain winger appeared destined to shine on soccer’s biggest stage. Instead, he will be forced to watch from afar as the world’s leading national team competes for the most prestigious trophy in the sport. In fact, the 2025-26 campaign may go down as the finest season of Kvaratskhelia’s career so far. The Georgian forward enjoyed remarkable success with the Parisians and further strengthened his reputation as one of the most dangerous wingers at the moment. After completing a high-profile move from Napoli to PSG in January 2025, Kvaratskhelia quickly became one of the key figures in Luis Enrique’s squad. He helped PSG win Ligue 1, captured the UEFA Champions League title, and was named the Champions League Player of the Season. He registered 10 goals and six assists in 16 Champions League appearances while also contributing eight goals and four assists in Ligue 1. The winger also achieved a unique milestone by becoming the first player in Champions League history to record either a goal or an assist in seven consecutive knockout-stage matches. His influence was particularly evident during PSG’s run to European glory, where he consistently delivered in the biggest moments. Why isn’t Kvaratskhelia playing at the World Cup? Despite all of his club success, Kvaratskhelia’s World Cup dream has been halted by circumstances beyond his control. The reason for his absence is that Georgia failed to qualify for the 2026 FIFA World Cup. While many of soccer’s traditional powers successfully secured places at the expanded 48-team tournament, Georgia could not navigate a difficult qualifying campaign. The nation that captured the imagination of fans during Euro 2024 was unable to repeat that success on the road to North America. Kvaratskhelia did his part during qualification, scoring six important goals in 12 games and attempting to inspire his country. However, Georgia struggled for consistency throughout the campaign and ultimately fell short of securing either automatic qualification or a playoff route. 2026 FIFA World Cup qualification – UEFA Group E The disappointment is particularly painful considering how much excitement Willy Sagnol’s side generated during its historic appearance at Euro 2024. That tournament marked the nation’s first major international competition, and Kvaratskhelia was the driving force behind a memorable run to the knockout rounds. Georgia’s qualification campaign falls short The qualifying group proved challenging for the Georgian national team. Despite flashes of promise, results simply did not go their way often enough. Georgia finished behind Spain and Turkey in its qualifying section, leaving the national team without a ticket to the World Cup. Several disappointing defeats proved costly, including a heavy loss away from home that effectively ended hopes of qualification. Khvicha Kvaratskhelia of Georgia gestures during the FIFA World Cup 2026 qualifiers Many observers felt Kvaratskhelia carried an enormous burden throughout the campaign. While Georgia possesses several talented players, few can match the PSG star’s ability to decide matches on his own. His dazzling dribbling, creativity, and eye for goal frequently kept Ge
Despite being one of the best players of the season, Lamine Yamal lost the Ballon d’Or award to Ousmane Dembélé, surprising everyone. After this, the 18-year-old star made a curious reflection on not having won it, seeing it as a boost for his career. At just 18 years old, Lamine Yamal has managed to become one of the best players in the world, shining with Barcelona. Despite being one of the standout performers of the season, he lost the Ballon d’Or award to Ousmane Dembélé, surprising all the fans. Far from being discouraged by this setback, the 18-year-old star showed great maturity, reflecting on it and using the defeat to push himself toward his best version. “I thought I was going to win it that day, but because of many things that happened that day, I think it was very good that Dembélé won it. Also, for my personal growth, it wasn’t the right moment for me to win it because I was very young and I wouldn’t have appreciated what it means to win a Ballon d’Or. In addition, I get along very well with Ousmane… It helped me get back up as I wasn’t in a good moment and matured a lot,” Lamine said on his Youtube channel. Even though Lamine Yamal did not win the UEFA Champions League with Barcelona, he significantly improved his numbers in the current season. After playing 45 matches, he has managed to score 24 goals and provide 18 assists, ranking among the most productive players in the world. However, failing to win Europe’s top competition with the Blaugrana appears to be reducing his chances of winning the Ballon d’Or. Despite suffering four injuries during the current season, Lamine managed to overcome these setbacks, showing great mental strength. In addition, he became Barcelona’s creative focal point amid the absences of Raphinha and Robert Lewandowski’s drop in form. For this reason, he arrives at the 2026 World Cup in top shape, aiming to prove his ability with Spain and lead them to the title after 16 years. Lamine Yamal of Spain looks on during the UEFA Nations League 2025. Lamine Yamal’s Ballon d’Or hopes may hinge on 2026 World Cup Throughout the 2025–26 season, Lamine Yamal has indeed been among the most productive players. However, PSG’s UEFA Champions League victory gives Ousmane Dembélé and Khvicha Kvaratskhelia a significant advantage in the race for the Ballon d’Or. Alongside them, Harry Kane could also emerge as another clear favorite. With this in mind, the 18-year-old star’s chances of winning the award could depend on the 2026 World Cup. Not having won the UEFA Champions League, Lamine is not the clear favorite to win the Ballon d’Or. Despite this, he could change everything if he emerges as the tournament’s top scorer or wins the trophy for Spain, as that could push him to lead the race. With the Georgian not featuring in the World Cup, only a victory for England or France in the tournament could distance him from the award, as his impact at Barcelona has already made it clear that he deserves to win it.
Mirroring Lionel Messi, Lamine Yamal has been assigned with the number 19 for his first World Cup, leaving Spain's number 10 to another star teammate. Lamine Yamal is set to make his highly anticipated World Cup debut in 2026 following his meteoric rise to soccer’s upper echelon, anchoring La Roja‘s pursuit of a second global title to replicate their historic 2010 triumph. Following the official jersey reveal, Yamal will wear the No. 19 shirt, strikingly mirroring Lionel Messi‘s debut number in the competition, leaving the iconic No. 10 to another star teammate. Last week, head coach Luis de la Fuente unveiled his 26-man roster to represent Spain at the tournament, marking the first time in history that a Spanish World Cup squad features zero Real Madrid players. On Monday, the Royal Spanish Football Federation (RFEF) officially announced the squad numbers for the tournament, showcasing several intriguing assignments across the star-studded team. Lamine Yamal has been designated the No. 19 shirt, the exact number he wore when breaking onto the scene with Barcelona and the one he has proudly donned throughout his young international career. Ever since his debut match against Georgia in September 2023, the 18-year-old sensation has favored that specific number, steering Spain to a Euro 2024 trophy and a runner-up finish in the 2025 UEFA Nations League before carrying it into his first World Cup. Meanwhile, Spain‘s No. 10 jersey, which Yamal wore this past season with Barcelona, will remain in the hands of teammate Dani Olmo, who has firmly held ownership of the number since 2024. During the 2022 World Cup in Qatar, the playmaker jersey belonged to Marco Asensio, who has since completely fallen out of favor and was dropped from the national team roster entirely. You’ve been waiting for them and here they are.These are the CONFIRMED SQUAD NUMBERS for the World Cup.ℹ️ Full details: https://t.co/mXWzpIx8kr#VamosEspaña | #FIFAWorldCup pic.twitter.com/8PeXdkAf7W— Spanish Football (@SpainIsFootball) June 1, 2026 Perhaps the most unconventional choice on the list belongs to Barcelona’s Gavi, who will wear the No. 9 jersey, a number traditionally reserved for predatory target men and central strikers rather than deep-lying midfielders. Nonetheless, the combative midfielder has embraced that exact shirt ever since his historic international debut against Italy in October 2021 during the Nations League finals. Yamal continues to track closely with the Messi blueprint While Yamal has made clear that he wishes to avoid being compared to Cristiano Ronaldo or Lionel Messi, the statistical and visual parallels to the Argentine legend continue to grow. For starters, both shared the identical path of wearing No. 19 at Barcelona during their formative professional years, but now the coincidences have extended to the grandest international stage. At the 2006 World Cup, an 18-year-old Lionel Messi was called up to his very first tournament with Argentina, ultimately turning 19 mid-competition while sporting the No. 19 on his back. Fast forward exactly 20 years later, and Yamal enters his debut World Cup at 18 years old, set to celebrate his 19th birthday on July 13 while assigned the exact same number. Lionel Messi of Argentina is put under pressure by Zinha, Gerardo Torrado and Gonzalo Pineda of Mexico. During that 2006 tournament in Germany, with Juan Roman Riquelme operating as Argentina’s No. 10, Messi was utilized primarily as an impact substitute under Jose Pekerman, a contrast to Yamal, who arrives as Spain’s undisputed focal point. Messi recorded a goal and an assist in three appearances during that debut tournament, benchmarks the young Barcelona winger will be eager to eclipse over the next month.
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