Tottenham Hotspur manager Thomas Frank has made the extraordinary claim that Paris Saint-Germain midfielder Vitinha will become the next Ballon d'Or winner after the Portuguese star's hat-trick inspired a dramatic 5-3 victory over Spurs in the Champions League.
Champions League Thriller Sees Spurs Falter
In a breathtaking European encounter on Wednesday evening, Tottenham twice surrendered leads against the reigning European champions. Despite showing moments of promise and aggression, Frank's side ultimately fell to a 5-3 defeat in a match that featured eight goals. The result leaves Tottenham in 16th position in the Champions League standings, though they remain just two points adrift of the automatic qualification spots for the knockout stages.
Vitinha's Masterclass Draws High Praise
The match was decisively shaped by the performance of Vitinha, PSG's 25-year-old midfielder. He netted a stunning hat-trick, a personal triumph that he later described as a "dream." This remarkable display takes his season's tally to an impressive five goals and eight assists across all competitions for the French champions.
Frank, who struggled to contain the influential playmaker, did not hold back in his post-match assessment. "Vitinha is the best midfielder in the world," the Spurs boss declared. "He will be the next Ballon d'Or winner."
Mixed Emotions for Frank After Brave Display
While lamenting the defeat, Frank highlighted the positive aspects of his team's performance. He expressed particular satisfaction with their bravery and attacking intent. "I am very pleased with the performance," Frank stated. "Today was much more the identity of the team, the bravery and aggressiveness of the team. There were lots of positives, the two strikers scoring three goals between them, the whole team performed really well."
However, he acknowledged that defensive lapses proved costly, adding, "The performance was to get something out of the game but then you need to have the margins with you. We can't concede some of the goals we did."
For his part, Vitinha praised his team's resilience after the final whistle. "Difficult game. Tottenham is a good team," he said. "They were able to create some difficulties for us. We conceded two goals we were not expecting... We showed a lot of personality to come back two times from the score."
Should Frank's bold prediction come true, it would mean Paris Saint-Germain produces a second consecutive Ballon d'Or winner, following Ousmane Dembele's victory last season after a campaign where he scored 35 goals.
Tottenham must now regroup quickly as they prepare to face London rivals Fulham at home this weekend in the Premier League.
