Vitinha says a Paris Saint-Germain player would be the “most fair and reasonable” winner of the Ballon d’Or if the club’s UEFA Champions League success is taken into account.
The midfielder was speaking before Paris Saint-Germain’s UEFA Champions League Group Stage Matchday 3 home fixture against Barcelona, with the Ballon d’Or ceremony due to take place in a week.
Vitinha acknowledged the strength of the competition, naming Kylian Mbappe, Lamine Yamal and Michael Olise among the outstanding candidates, but said his preference was clear.
“There are many excellent players in football, and the competition for this honour is extremely fierce,” he said. “Mbappe, Lamine and Olise… it’s really hard to predict who will ultimately win the trophy. But for me, the most rightful outcome should be a Paris player winning.”
Barcelona’s midfield is expected to face a significant test against a Paris Saint-Germain side featuring Vitinha, Joao Felix, Fabian Ruiz and Zaire-Emery.
Asked whether Barcelona possess the strongest midfield in world football and whether that contest could decide the game, Vitinha said both teams would seek to press aggressively and dictate possession.
“It will be very interesting to see who can control the midfield,” he said. “Both sides want to press defensively and control the tempo in possession, but when both teams are pressing intensely, it’s not easy to fully control the situation.”
He anticipated a close, high-quality encounter between two teams with considerable midfield and overall strength.
Vitinha also reflected on his development since joining Paris Saint-Germain, saying his progress had been significant during his fifth year at the club.
“I really feel like I’ve transformed,” he said. “It’s been a long journey. I still have many shortcomings, and the coach always reminds me that there are many areas where I need to keep improving.”
The midfielder added that he was proud of his performances but viewed his development as unfinished, with ambitions to win more major honours with the team while continuing to reach his personal goals.
Barcelona’s pressing and preference for possession could make the opening stages particularly congested, Vitinha said. With both teams looking to regain the ball immediately after losing it, he expects spaces to appear as the match develops.
“I think there will definitely be space on the field,” he said. “As time goes on, physical exertion might lead to fluctuations in tempo, and then it will come down to which team can better exploit the weaknesses to deliver a decisive blow.”
Vitinha identified internal competition as a major reason for Paris Saint-Germain’s sustained level, saying the coach refuses to allow players to become complacent.
“When you’re surrounded by top teammates, they force you to give your all, otherwise you could be replaced at any moment,” he said.
He added that maintaining such standards was difficult, but said Paris Saint-Germain had remained among Europe’s leading teams for four consecutive years, including the campaign in which they reached the semi-finals before missing out on the final through “bad luck”.
