Khvicha Kvaratskhelia, the Paris Saint-Germain and Georgia forward known as Kvara, is nominated for this year's Ballon d'Or. His wife, Nitsa Tavadze, whom he married in 2023, has been a constant presence in his life since they met in 2021.
The 25-year-old's attendance at the ceremony in London this evening is uncertain after he suffered a serious injury earlier this month.
How the couple met
Kvaratskhelia and Tavadze were introduced through a mutual friend in 2021. At the time, he was playing for Napoli while she was studying at Tbilisi Medical University.
Because of her university commitments, Tavadze could not initially move to Naples, so the pair kept in touch through phone calls and letters. Whenever she had a break from her studies, she would fly to Italy to support him.
Wedding and family life
The couple married on October 16, 2023, at Mtskheta's Samtavro monastery, wearing traditional Georgian clothes. Kvaratskhelia shared photos of the day with the caption "16.10.23," along with a praying emoji and a red love heart.
The following year, they welcomed their first child, Damiane.
Nitsa's career and public profile
When the pair met, Tavadze was a medical student in Georgia. It is unknown whether she has graduated or is still studying.
She regularly shares snippets of her life on Instagram, where she has amassed over 200,000 followers. Tavadze has also appeared in a photo campaign for Boygar's, a Tbilisi-based luxury fashion store.
Support during injury
Kvaratskhelia was injured during a Paris Saint-Germain match against Barcelona and was set to have surgery after rupturing his anterior cruciate ligament (ACL).
In an Instagram post supporting her husband, Tavadze wrote: "Sometimes life tests the strongest people in ways they never expected. But I believe with all my heart that this moment will become another part of our incredible story. One day, we'll look back at this chapter and remember not how difficult it was, but how much strength it took to overcome it."
