The PSG and Portugal midfield maestro has quietly put together an elite season—one that matches, and maybe even outshines, the frontrunners.
When the conversation around the 2025 Ballon d’Or comes up, the usual suspects dominate the headlines—Lamine Yamal, Ousmane Dembélé, Kylian Mbappé, Mohamed Salah, Rafael Leão, and a few others. But there’s one name that has been largely overlooked. A player who’s been central to everything his club and country have achieved this season.
Today, let’s talk about Vitinha—and why he absolutely deserves to be in the Ballon d’Or conversation.
Team Achievements: PSG’s Historic Season
The Ballon d’Or is awarded based on three main criteria:
- Team trophies and achievements
- Individual performances
- Class and fair play
Starting with team achievements, Vitinha’s season with Paris Saint-Germain has been nothing short of phenomenal. PSG have dominated world football in 2024/25. They’ve won every competition they’ve entered so far, including their long-awaited first-ever UEFA Champions League title. And they didn’t just win it—they dismantled Inter Milan in the final, producing the biggest winning margin ever seen in a European Cup final.
Now, they’ve carried that momentum into the new FIFA Club World Cup, where they opened the tournament with a resounding 4-0 win over Atlético Madrid.
So if team success is part of the equation, Vitinha already has a strong case. But we all know the Ballon d’Or tends to favor attackers. That’s why Dembélé—Ligue 1 top scorer, Ligue 1 Player of the Season, and UEFA Champions League Player of the Season—might seem like the frontrunner from PSG.
But then comes the national team factor.
The Nations League Boost
Vitinha didn’t just shine at club level—he helped Portugal win the UEFA Nations League this summer. While players like Dembélé and Lamine Yamal also reached the latter stages with France and Spain, neither managed to win the trophy.
Sure, you can argue that the Nations League isn’t as prestigious as the Euros or World Cup, but in a tight Ballon d’Or race, every trophy counts. And this one gives Vitinha an edge that others don’t have.
Class and Fair Play
Here’s where Vitinha really sets himself apart. On and off the pitch, the 25-year-old is the definition of professionalism and composure. He’s respected by teammates, opponents, fans, and media alike. Over the course of an entire season, he’s received just one yellow card—and that came in a Nations League quarterfinal.
He’s gone the entire Champions League and Ligue 1 campaign without a single booking for PSG. That kind of discipline, especially from a central midfielder, is incredibly rare.
Individual Brilliance in the Engine Room
Let’s talk about performances. Not just stats—but game impact.
Vitinha may not be grabbing headlines with 30-goal seasons, but pound for pound, adjusted to position, there’s a strong argument he’s been the most influential player in world football this season.
In Europe’s top competitions:
- 11 goal contributions from midfield
- Top 5 in completed dribbles among UCL midfielders
- Most big chances created by a central midfielder in the UCL
- Most passes completed in the UEFA Champions League—nearly 2,300
- Passing accuracy of 93.6% in Europe; 93.75% in Ligue 1
No midfielder has been more press-resistant, progressive, and efficient. His short and long-range passing are elite. He plays with no angle bias—he can dictate the tempo and switch play with ease. It’s no coincidence that every move at PSG seems to go through him.
For Portugal, his presence changed everything. In the Nations League semifinal against Germany, Portugal were struggling until Vitinha came off the bench. He calmed the midfield, freed up Bruno Fernandes and Bernardo Silva, and helped turn the game around.
Defensive Work & Mentality
Think he’s just a flair player? Think again.
Vitinha was in the top 5 for interceptions in the UCL—beating several top defenders. Among midfielders, he ranked second for clearances. He reads the game like a veteran and defends like a warrior, even though he’s not the most physically imposing player.
And what about mentality?
After PSG lost 3-1 to Liverpool at home in the Champions League Round of 16 first leg, Vitinha stood in front of the press and said they would win at Anfield and go through.
Everyone thought it was impossible—Liverpool had never been knocked out of Europe after winning the first leg. But Vitinha led PSG to a historic comeback at Anfield and helped them on their way to winning the tournament. That’s the kind of belief and leadership Ballon d’Or winners are made of.
The Precedent Is There
In 2018, Luka Modrić won the Ballon d’Or. In 2023, Rodri was a serious contender and might’ve won if it weren’t for Messi’s World Cup. What they had in common: elite midfield performance, national team impact, and trophies.
Vitinha has:
- More trophies this season than Modrić in 2018 or Rodri in 2023
- A stronger statistical case than either
- Dominated at both club and international level
- Set the tone for his team with class, leadership, and mentality
So really—why shouldn’t he win?
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