Paris Saint-Germain's Portuguese midfielder Vitinha delivered a masterclass performance against Tottenham Hotspur, scoring a spectacular hat-trick in his side's 5-3 victory that has football experts tipping him for the highest individual honours.
Midfield Maestro Earns Manager's Highest Praise
Following the thrilling Champions League encounter, Tottenham manager Thomas Frank made the bold declaration that Vitinha is a future Ballon d'Or winner, a sentiment nobody in the room would dispute after witnessing his dominant display. The 25-year-old completely controlled the midfield battle, demonstrating why he's rapidly becoming one of world football's most complete players.
PSG manager Luis Enrique described his hat-trick hero as "sensational, as always" and praised his midfield unit as "incredible" and "beautiful to watch." The Spanish tactician appears to have solved PSG's long-standing puzzle by moving away from their obsession with global superstars and building a cohesive team that's making established European elites nervous.
The Making of a Modern Midfield Genius
At 25 years old, Vitinha has become PSG's equilibrium point - the team's bubbling creative force. Luis Enrique adores him because he perfectly embodies the fluid, possession-based football the manager wants to implement. His style has been compared to liquid gold for its seamless quality.
What makes Vitinha particularly effective is his readiness for possession turnovers, his constant availability to receive the ball, and his ability to operate under intense pressure. He reads the game with remarkable speed, assesses options and angles rapidly, and consistently makes the correct decision. His passes frequently drive forward, after which he immediately moves into position for the next phase of play.
Against Tottenham, he orchestrated PSG's attacking swarm while adding three goals of his own. His first two strikes were sublime finishes, one with each foot from the edge of the penalty area, before completing his hat-trick from the penalty spot after a rare defensive lapse.
Where Vitinha Ranks Among World's Best
Portugal national team manager Roberto Martínez didn't hesitate when asked earlier this year, stating: "For me, Vitinha is the best midfielder in the world." When playing with such confidence and flanked by equally selfless and gifted midfield partners like Fabían Ruiz and João Neves, while contributing goals and assists with style, it's difficult to imagine a better midfielder in world football currently.
Unlike Premier League stars Declan Rice and Moisés Caicedo, Vitinha doesn't possess the same physical presence or tackling bite, which may explain why he failed to make an impact during his loan spell at Wolves from Porto. Rice represents the archetypal English midfield product - a lion-hearted player who thrives in Mikel Arteta's muscular Arsenal system, while Caicedo is developing into a wonderful footballer at Chelsea with more than just aggression and energy.
Other global midfield talents like Jude Bellingham, Joshua Kimmich, and Pedri all deserve mention in conversations about the world's best midfielders. FC Barcelona's Pedri shares similarities with Vitinha - both operate with silky artistry, understand their team role perfectly, and combine effortlessly with teammates.
There's an argument that both Vitinha and Pedri are better suited to their current environments than they would be trying to succeed in the Premier League, which can become a suffering endurance test beyond footballing demands. However, in a dominant team rich in quality and possession control, there's no reason they couldn't thrive anywhere.
Rodri might be the best illustration of a central midfielder with the perfect blend of all necessary qualities - technique, tactical appreciation of moving pieces, and the mental and physical strength to endure an English season. This mixture earned him the Ballon d'Or when he was the cornerstone of a Manchester City team that swept all before injuries struck.
If PSG continue their relentless form under Enrique, Vitinha could follow in Rodri's footsteps, just as Thomas Frank predicted. The Portuguese international excels in the most outstanding team of the moment under a manager who has conjured the right formula. After witnessing his midweek performance, even against a Tottenham side that has won only three of their last twelve matches, it's impossible not to acclaim his brilliance alongside Martínez and Frank.
