Aleksander Čeferin, president of UEFA, spoke with the Portuguese newspaper Record. It was an opportunity for him to praise Portuguese football — and in doing so, he mentioned three Paris Saint-Germain players: Nuno Mendes (23-year-old left-back), João Neves (21-year-old midfielder), and Vitinha (25-year-old midfielder).
Čeferin: “He might be the best player right now.”
“Nuno Mendes is fantastic. He might be the best player at the moment, but his position isn’t as appreciated as those who score goals. João Neves, Vitinha… my favorite defender, Rúben Dias. But I didn’t want to name names — I’m probably forgetting someone.
What you’re doing in Portugal is impressive. It’s not just talent or hard work — others have that too. There’s something more. I hope I’ll discover it before I leave the presidency of UEFA.”
It’s great to see PSG players being cited as examples of world-class talent. It’s a strong sign of the team’s overall quality and the respect this group now commands. These three players have shone for both PSG and Portugal, and they truly deserve the praise.
The most important thing now is to see them continue on this path, managing this new phase of their careers as European champions admired by everyone. There’s no sign of complacency so far — and PSG coach Luis Enrique certainly isn’t opening the door to that.
There’s every reason to be optimistic, both for Paris and Portugal. The Portuguese national team has been strong for years, and its future looks even brighter. One can understand Čeferin’s curiosity about their secret — a mix of talent, work ethic, and determination. It’s truly admirable to see such consistency from a national team.
