12 Amazing Facts About Khvicha Kvaratskhelia From Childhood in Georgia
- Think Football Ideas
- Jun 7
- 5 min read
Full Name: Khvicha Kvaratskhelia
Date of Birth: 12 February 2001
Place of Birth: Tbilisi, Georgia
Height: 1.83 m (6 ft 0 in)
Position(s): Winger
Current Club: Paris Saint-Germain
Jersey Number: 7
Born in Tbilisi, forged in fire, and now flying down the flanks in Paris, Khvicha Kvaratskhelia isn’t just Georgia’s golden boy, he’s the winger who helped deliver PSG’s first-ever Champions League title.
A fearless dribbler with feet like poetry and the work rate of a street-hardened grafter, Khvicha brings chaos with control. He dazzles, sure, but he listens, too. His story from Tbilisi to the top of Europe? Still unfolding.
Here are 12 Rare Facts About Khvicha Kvaratskhelia From Childhood
1. His Football Career Began At Dinamo Tbilisi's Football Academy
Khvicha Kvaratskhelia’s footballing roots trace back to the iconic Dinamo Tbilisi academy, where he started sharpening his skills as a kid. The academy had previously drawn international attention when Cristiano Ronaldo visited in 2013.
By 2017, at age 16, he started making waves, stepping onto the senior pitch for Dinamo Tbilisi on 29 September in a 1–1 draw against Kolkheti-1913 Poti.
That day, he came off the bench in the 62nd minute, a moment that would kickstart a ride no one could’ve scripted. Just weeks later, on 19 November, he scored his first senior goal, a cheeky finish in a 1–0 away win at Shukura Kobuleti.
2. He Thrived At Rustavi, Lokomotiv Moscow, And Rubin Kazan
If Dinamo was the warm-up act, Rustavi, Lokomotiv, and Rubin Kazan were the breakout festival tour. After a contract tiff with Dinamo, Kvaratskhelia hopped to Rustavi in March 2018, where he showed glimpses of his magic with three goals in 18 league games.
Then came a whirlwind loan to Lokomotiv Moscow in early 2019. He made his RPL debut in March and left in July, but not before Lokomotiv's manager Yuri Semin declared losing him “very disappointing.” Why? Because the lad was electric.
The real ignition, though, happened at Rubin Kazan. Signed in July 2019, Khvicha immediately lit up the league, scoring in his first match against his old club Lokomotiv. Fans adored him, naming him Player of the Month four times in the 2020–21 season.
3. The Guardian And L’Équipe Recognised His Talent Early
You know you're doing something right when top tabloids start name-dropping you. In 2018, The Guardian slotted Kvaratskhelia into their list of the 60 best young talents worldwide, not a small flex for a kid still in Georgia's domestic league.
Fast forward to 2021, and L’Équipe doubled down on the prophecy, naming him one of the top 50 players born in the 21st century. And, he was the only Russian Premier League player on that list.
4. The War In Ukraine Led To Him Signing For Dinamo Batumi
Sometimes, football intersects with history in the most surreal ways. When Russia invaded Ukraine in early 2022, FIFA stepped in and allowed foreign players in Russia to suspend their contracts. Kvaratskhelia was one of them.
On 24 March 2022, he hit pause on Rubin Kazan and, on the very same day, joined Dinamo Batumi in his home country. In 11 matches, he bagged 8 goals and 2 assists. Between April and July, he was crowned the best player of the Erovnuli Liga’s second round.
5. He Is The First Napoli Player To Score 3 Goals In First 2 League Matches
Now this was an entrance. When Kvaratskhelia joined Napoli in July 2022 for around €10–12 million, nobody expected what happened next.
On 15 August, in his Serie A debut, he scored a goal and registered an assist against Hellas Verona in a 5–2 win. Then came Monza six days later, and he notched another two goals - his first Serie A brace. Three goals in two games. No Napoli player in history had done that before. Suddenly, every fan in Naples had a new crush.
6. His First UCL Goal Was Vs Ajax
October 4, 2022. That night in Amsterdam, Napoli torched Ajax 6–1, and in the chaos, Kvaratskhelia scored his first Champions League goal.
The moment was more than just a stat, it was proof that the Georgian wizard could do it on the biggest stage. A week later, he backed it up in the return leg with another goal and an assist as he secured the Man of the Match.
7. He is The First To Win Multiple Serie A POTM Awards In One Season
Consistency, thy name is Khvicha. Most players dream of winning a single Serie A Player of the Month award. Kvaratskhelia? He bagged three in one season, in August, February, and March of 2022–23.
No one had done that before. Nobody. He wasn’t just electric, he was relentless. Fans, pundits, coaches, everyone was nodding in agreement. "This guy? He’s the real deal." And man, were they right.
8. He Was The Serie A MVP And UCL Young Player Of The 2022-23 Season
By the time May 2023 rolled around, the accolades were pouring in. With 12 goals and 10 assists in Serie A, Kvaratskhelia wasn’t just Napoli’s standout, he was the league’s MVP.
Add the Champions League Young Player of the Season to that haul and you've got a campaign for the history books. And, remember, this was his first season in Italy. He wasn’t just good; he was disruptive in the best way.
9. He is The First Georgian in PSG History
Bonjour, Paris! On 17 January 2025, Kvaratskhelia swapped Naples for the City of Lights, joining PSG on a deal running until 2029.
The move cost €80 million, €70M upfront, €10M in bonuses, and it made history: Khvicha became the first Georgian ever to play for PSG. Just days later, on 25 January, he debuted with an assist against Reims. It didn’t take long for him to fit in, did it?
10. He Is The First Georgian To Win Ligue 1 And Coupe De France
And boy, did he win fast. PSG clinched the Ligue 1 title on 5 April 2025, and in doing so, Kvaratskhelia became the first Georgian to win France’s top flight. But wait, there’s more!
On 25 May, PSG won the Coupe de France. Khvicha didn’t feature in the final, but still made history as the first Georgian to win the trophy. And thanks to his contributions during the first half of the 2024–25 season with Napoli, he also earned a Serie A title.
11. He Comes From A Footballing Family; His Father, Badri, Was Also A Player
The genes were football-coded. Khvicha’s dad, Badri Kvaratskhelia, wasn’t just a local baller, he actually played internationally for Azerbaijan, even going head-to-head with Georgia once.
Talk about family drama! Khvicha has two brothers, including young Tornike, who’s also kicking a ball around. Football? It’s the Kvaratskhelia family business.
12. He is The First Georgian To Score in A UEFA Final
31 May 2025. Champions League final. PSG vs Inter Milan. Five goals to nil, and yes, Khvicha scored one of them. That moment? It wasn’t just a cherry on top of a historic win; it made him the first Georgian ever to score in a UEFA club competition final.
And only the second Georgian to win the Champions League, after Kakha Kaladze. Legends welcome, Khvicha. Legends welcome.
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