Kvaratskhelia ruptures ACL, Dembélé and Marquinhos out for weeks: PSG's costly win over Barcelona
Khvicha Kvaratskhelia has ruptured his anterior cruciate ligament and needs surgery, while Ousmane Dembélé and captain Marquinhos face several weeks out. What it means for the champions of Europe.
Paris Saint-Germain beat Barcelona 4-2 on Tuesday night, but the cost of the win only became clear on Wednesday. Khvicha Kvaratskhelia has ruptured the anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) in his right knee, and the club confirmed that Ousmane Dembélé and captain Marquinhos will also miss several weeks.
The three injuries
| Player | Injury | Expected absence |
|---|---|---|
| Khvicha Kvaratskhelia | Ruptured ACL, right knee | Months — surgery "in the coming days" |
| Ousmane Dembélé | Left thigh | Several weeks |
| Marquinhos | Right thigh muscle | Several weeks |
Kvaratskhelia was hurt early in the second half when he landed awkwardly after sprinting back to make a tackle. Dembélé pulled up clutching the back of his left thigh in the first half, and Marquinhos, 32, was replaced around the hour mark along with Kvaratskhelia.
ACL injuries usually keep players out for six to nine months, which means Kvaratskhelia is likely to miss most, and possibly all, of the rest of the season.
How big a loss is Kvaratskhelia?
Since joining from Napoli in January 2025, the Georgian winger has been central to PSG's two Champions League titles. Dembélé, the 2025 Ballon d'Or winner, has even said publicly that Kvaratskhelia is the club's best hope of winning this year's award. The injury will not change the Ballon d'Or vote — the 2026 award is judged on last season — but it leaves Luis Enrique without two of his most dangerous forwards at the same time.
Who replaces them?
PSG's attack is deep. Désiré Doué, who opened the scoring against Barcelona and was named player of the match, is the obvious candidate on the left, and Bradley Barcola's departure to Liverpool in the summer means more responsibility for the club's younger forwards. In defence, Lucas Hernández — who scored PSG's second goal — and Willian Pacho are the options alongside the remaining centre-backs.
The fixtures ahead
PSG host Lyon on Sunday in a top-of-the-table Ligue 1 meeting, with the two clubs level on points. In the Champions League, they have won all three games and lead the league phase; matchday 4 is on 3–4 November. Read the full matchday 3 roundup.
FAQ
How long will Kvaratskhelia be out? PSG say he will be out for months after rupturing his right ACL. Such injuries usually take six to nine months to recover from.
When was Kvaratskhelia injured? Early in the second half of PSG's 4-2 Champions League win over Barcelona on 20 October 2026.
How long are Dembélé and Marquinhos out? Both are expected to miss several weeks with thigh injuries.
