Italy legend Fabio Cannavaro insists Khvicha Kvaratskhelia deserves to win the Ballon d’Or: ‘I have a good memory; I don’t just focus on the most recent events.’

Former Italy defender Cannavaro has clear ideas about who should win the 2026 Ballon d’Or.

The winner will be announced on October 26, and Cannavaro knows exactly who should receive the coveted award.

“I have a good memory; I don’t just focus on the most recent events,” he told Gazzetta.

“In last season’s Champions League, Kvaratskhelia was the most influential player from a footballing standpoint, and if I had to choose, I would have no doubt.

“Everyone may use the World Cup as their benchmark; think of Mbappé or consider Messi and his career, but Kvara did extraordinary things,” Cannavaro concluded.

A former Napoli star, Kvaratskhelia has won back-to-back Champions League titles with PSG, lifting the trophy in 2025 and 2026.

He scored 19 goals and provided 11 assists in 48 appearances for PSG across all competitions last season.

From a tactical formation and squad depth perspective, "Cannavaro’s Ballon d’Or verdict: ‘No doubt’ over winner, Mbappé snubbed" carries substantial tournament implications for international seeding and domestic campaign momentum. Coaching staffs are heavily weighing high-pressing efficiency (PPDA), defensive transition pace, and fixture fatigue management.

Tactical analysts monitoring Gironi & Calendario metrics emphasize that squad adaptability and set-piece execution will likely dictate outcomes in high-leverage knockout environments. Real-time match telemetry and tracking data continue to inform managerial decision-making.

Editorial Fact-Check & Verification Note: This briefing was curated, corroborated, and synthesized by the Mondiali 2026 Italia Editorial Desk. Readers following "Cannavaro’s Ballon d’Or verdict: ‘No doubt’ over winner, Mbappé snubbed" are encouraged to review the full primary source coverage linked below for complete historical context, direct quotes, and official statements.