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Kvaratskhelia named Champions League player of the season / Photo: © AFP
Kvaratskhelia named Champions League player of the season
Paris Saint-Germain's Georgia winger Khvicha Kvaratskhelia was named Champions League player of the season on Sunday by a UEFA panel of judges.
Kvaratskhelia was a constant menace in PSG's defence of the title with ten goals and six assists from his 16 games.
PSG came from a goal down against Arsenal on Saturday to equalise from the spot on 65 minutes after Kvaratskhelia was scythed to the floor inside the box with Ousmane Dembele converting the spot-kick.
Both had left the fray before the game went to extra-time and ended 1-1, before PSG emerged from a shoot-out as narrow 4-3 winners.
UEFA's technical observer board of around 30 football dignitaries such as Gareth Southgate, Ole Gunnar Solskjaer and Rafa Benitez voted for the award.
The panel's statement described his season as pivotal and dazzling.
"Arguably Kvaratskhelia's finest performance came in the unforgettable 5-4 semi-final first-leg win over Bayern, as he curled in a beauty to draw his side level at 1-1 before adding a fierce drive in the second period to complete a fine double," they said.
He also scored three goals over the two legs against Chelsea in the last 16 and another at Liverpool in the quarter-finals.
The now 25-year-old was also on the score sheet in the 2025 final as PSG thumped Inter Milan 5-0.
W. Winogradow--BTZ
