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الجزيرة الرياضية
Kvaratskhelia repeats Eto'o in Ballon d'Or race
The list of nominees for the 2026 Ballon d'Or has been exceptional, featuring only one player who did not participate in the World Cup: Georgian player Khvicha Kvaratskhelia from Paris Saint-Germain, due to his national team failing to qualify. This situation is unique in the past 20 years, as most of the contenders have typically been participants in the tournament. However, Kvaratskhelia shined with an outstanding performance this season, scoring 10 goals and providing 6 assists, contributing to Paris Saint-Germain's second consecutive UEFA Champions League title. The anomaly harkens back to 2006, when Samuel Eto'o missed the Germany World Cup and finished sixth in the final ranking, a scenario similar to Kvaratskhelia's in 2026—even without World Cup participation. This highlights that exceptional performance and a successful season can give a player a chance to compete for the award despite not taking part in the World Cup.
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