Vitinha (25, midfielder) established himself at Paris Saint-Germain as the player who averaged the most touches of the ball last season in Ligue 1, with 118 touches per match according to Paris Stats Germain. Behind him, Achraf Hakimi (26, defender) and Lucas Hernandez (29, defender) complete this trio of leaders in the circulation of the ball. This statistical dominance underscores Vitinha’s key role in PSG’s organization.
“Stats Focus on the Balls Played by PSG Players
With 118 touches, Vitinha is the Parisian who averaged the most touches of the ball last season in Ligue 1. He is ahead of two defenders, Hakimi (107) and Hernandez (105).)“
Last season, Vitinha was Paris Saint-Germain’s metronome. With an average of nearly 118 touches per game, he established himself as the main force behind Paris’s play, even surpassing defenders like Hakimi (107) and Hernandez (105), who are usually more involved in the clearance. Hernandez played less, so his presence on the podium in this area can be put into perspective. For Vitinha, this volume illustrates the evolution of the game plan under Luis Enrique, aimed at establishing technical dominance through possession.
Vitinha isn’t content with simply being a relay player: his pass completion rate (over 94%) and his active participation in the offensive build-up make him an irreplaceable player. His ability to make himself available between the lines, accelerate transition phases, and dictate the tempo give PSG a game structure that’s difficult to counter. This choice to make it the heart of the system largely explains the club’s ability to impose its rhythm against most of its championship opponents.
