On Wednesday at the Parc des Princes, Paris Saint-Germain defeated Chelsea 5-2 in the first leg of their 2025-2026 Champions League Round of 16 tie (second leg on March 17). Following the match, UEFA named the best player of the game.
It’s very rare for a substitute to be named player of the match, which highlights just how impactful Khvicha Kvaratskhelia (25-year-old forward) was when he came on. While Bradley Barcola (23-year-old forward) also seemed a strong contender, his brace late in the game was particularly memorable. The Georgian, perhaps spurred on by his substitute role, turned the game around.
