Vitinha, the 25-year-old midfielder for Paris Saint-Germain and Portugal, has given numerous interviews at the end of the year. This time, he spoke with the newspaper Marca. He discussed the 2024-2025 season, the collective strength of PSG, his role, the demands of coach Luis Enrique, and the 2026 World Cup.
Vitinha: “Now, we have to keep this momentum going.”
Would you say the season was perfect?
Yes, perfect, or almost. We can talk about our defeat in the Club World Cup, but the truth is that we were once again at the decisive moment after an excellent tournament, and victory narrowly eluded us. And then, let’s be honest, Chelsea were better.
But 2025 was a perfect year, or almost, and I’m very happy to have had such a great season with the whole team. Now, we have to keep this momentum going, aim even higher, and if possible, do better than these six titles.
Vitinha: “A memory I will cherish all my life. It was incredible.”
I imagine the Champions League title is the most special for you and for the club, which has worked hard for years to achieve it.
Yes, without a doubt, the most important was the Champions League. Of course, winning a title like the Nations League with the Portuguese national team is also very important and carries a different meaning and symbolism.
But winning the Champions League is every player’s dream, and to have done it in Paris, where the expectations were so high, and to offer this moment to the fans, it was magnificent, a memory I will cherish all my life. It was incredible.
Vitinha: “I always do what I believe is best for the team in order to win matches and titles.”
What is the secret to this team’s success? Why does she seem so superior to her rivals in terms of team play?
Because that’s what it’s all about: a team. We prioritize the team, and when that happens, individual recognition follows. But the team comes first, as I said in my acceptance speech for this Globe Soccer award. I focus and prepare accordingly, I play for the team, and I always do what I believe is best for it in order to win matches and titles. And then, these awards come naturally.
Vitinha: “Either we are all indispensable, or none of us are.”
This PSG is a perfectly oiled machine, but the one who drives it is Vitinha. If there is one indispensable person in Luis Enrique’s system, it’s you.
No one is indispensable at PSG. As I said, we are a team, we’ve already proven that, we continue to win and be very competitive despite the absence of many players, we remain united. I would say that, in this team, either we are all indispensable, or none of us are.
Do you feel you are generally recognized individually after such an extraordinary season for the team and for you personally?
Yes, I felt that particularly this year. I know that 2025 was the year of my real breakthrough and recognition from everyone, but I think I had already achieved very good performances in previous seasons, even if they perhaps didn’t receive such visibility. In the end, my work is recognized by everyone, and I’m very happy about that, because it’s also important to me.
Vitinha: “From that point of view, no one can disappoint him.”
What exactly does Luis Enrique expect from you? What are his priorities in your role on the pitch?
Many things. We work daily on numerous aspects that we already know we need to master, but what Luis Enrique can never lack is commitment. From that perspective, no one can let him down.
Which midfielders have you studied the most to improve your game?
Without a doubt, the one who inspired me the most is Iniesta. Andrés has always been my biggest role model. And then Luka Modric, of course. Those two have always been my biggest role models.
What aspect of the game do you enjoy the most: a pass, a touch, an assist, a goal?
I love having the ball at my feet and feeling the game revolve around me. That’s what I always try to do. Managing the game, knowing when to accelerate, when to slow down, when to attack, when to retain possession and maintain it, that’s what I prefer. Of course, scoring goals is always special, but I prefer this.
Vitinha: “To be lucky, you have to work hard.”
In six months, you’ll have the opportunity to add another title to your list of achievements. I’m talking about the World Cup. Do you think it’s possible?
Absolutely! Portugal has a very good team, and we are among the favorites, even though there are other very good teams among the contenders. In any case, we have to try to win everything again with PSG; we have to keep progressing and improving every day.
And try to win the World Cup. My teammates on the national team also feel capable of repeating such an unforgettable season, of course. We know it’s extremely difficult, but if we persevere on the same path and don’t forget what made us successful, we will try to repeat this feat.
Then, many factors and details will determine our success. This year, we demonstrated a remarkable work ethic, a real achievement, and that’s to our credit. But I’m sure we also benefited from a bit of luck in the decisive moments, and we’ll need it again this year. To have luck, you have to work hard, and at PSG, we’re going to work hard again to achieve that.
