BIO

Vítor Machado Ferreira, Vitinha, was born February 13, 2000, in Vila das Aves, Portugal. He is a central midfielder for Paris Saint-Germain. He won the Primeira Liga and Taça de Portugal with FC Porto in 2020 and 2022. At PSG, he secured four Ligue 1 titles between 2023 and 2026 and the 2025 and 2026 UEFA Champions League. Honors include 2022 Primeira Liga Best Young Player and 2026 Globe Soccer Best Midfielder. A senior international since 2022, he has 38 caps and 2 goals, appearing in the 2022 and 2026 FIFA World Cups. He won the 2025 UEFA Nations League with Portugal.

His 2025-2026 season:

Achievements

64 matches, 7 goals, 10 assists, 3 yellow cards, 0 red card, 1 Champions League, 1 Intercontinental Cup, 1 European Super Cup, 1 Ligue 1, 1 French Super Cup

Performance and Ballon d'Or Criteria

  • Tactical Fluidity: Vitinha operates as a master tempo-setter for Luis Enrique, demonstrating the versatility to function as a deep-lying playmaker or a box-to-box midfielder.

  • Technical Balance: He is characterized by exceptional ball retention and the ability to stay between the lines, providing elite tactical structure through his rhythmic distribution.

Efficiency Statistics

  • Distribution Volume: During the 2024/25 UEFA Champions League campaign, Vitinha completed more passes than any other player in the tournament.

  • League-Leading Precision: He leads Ligue 1 in total passes and accurate long passes, ranking in the 91st percentile for progressive passes.

  • Physical Durability: In the 2024/25 season, he was Europe's most-used outfield player, featuring in a total of 72 matches.