At Paris Saint-Germain, midfielder Vitinha (26 years old) gave a simple yet revealing interview on Canal11. Without presenting himself as “the best,” he lucidly asserts his place among the elite. And in the same segment, he cites Pedri, João Neves, and Bruno Fernandes as points of comparison.
Vitinha: “But I know I’m part of that group.”
“I don’t like to say I’m the best. It sounds arrogant, because it’s always just an opinion. But I know I’m part of that group.
Pedri? He’s magical. It’s spectacular to watch him play. When you play against him, you understand him even better. So, in the top three, it’s a bit complicated for me. Choosing two is difficult. I would add João [Neves] and Bruno [Fernandes]. The two of them, along with me and Pedri.” So, I’m not making a top 3, but a top 4. We can play with four!
What Vitinha demonstrates is a clear difference between ego and an awareness of his own worth. He rejects the label of “best in the world” because that ranking remains an opinion, therefore a slippery slope and often a noisy one. On the other hand, he doesn’t hide behind a facade of modesty: he places himself among the group of midfielders who matter, those whose level is proven over time, in big matches, and even in direct contact when he mentions Pedri.
By also citing João Neves and Bruno Fernandes, he paints a picture of a quartet rather than a podium: less a competition of pronouncements than a family portrait of the dominant players of the moment. Ultimately, this is perhaps the most “elite” DNA: speak little, be precise, and let the pitch do the rest, especially when you already carry that weight at PSG.
