Luis Enrique Hails Vitinha as ‘World-Class’ Amid Ballon d’Or Buzz and Busquets Comparisons
Paris Saint-Germain manager Luis Enrique was effusive in his commendation of Vitinha, hailing the Portuguese midfielder as “world class” after his magnificent display in their thrilling 5-3 Champions League triumph against Tottenham Hotspur.
Despite twice trailing at the Parc des Princes, Vitinha’s dazzling hat-trick was instrumental in propelling the reigning European champions to victory in a game that truly ignited in the second half.
The player, who secured third place in the 2025 Ballon d’Or, initiated his scoring spree with a stunning, unstoppable shot that nestled perfectly into the upper corner of the net just before halftime, leveling the score after PSG’s initially unsteady performance.
He replicated this feat soon after the restart, unleashing a pinpoint accurate strike from outside the box.
Even though an error on his part contributed to Spurs’ third goal, he displayed remarkable composure by confidently converting his hat-trick securing penalty in the 77th minute.
It was a performance brimming with exceptional skill and finesse, further fueling the increasing number of voices proclaiming him to be the most versatile and accomplished midfielder on the planet.
Trending
Before PSG’s match against Monaco, Enrique gave a very thorough and enthusiastic evaluation of Vitinha’s performance.
“To really understand how good Vitinha is, you need to consider last season, his initial season, and how he has impacted our attacking style and our game management,” the coach explained.
“From my perspective as a coach, it’s fantastic to have someone with his skillset. He’s passionate about the game and always wants to practice. These are exactly the kind of players you want to keep around.”
Enrique even discussed comparisons to the legendary Sergio Busquets, a defining player in that midfield role and someone he previously coached at Barcelona.
He continued, “It’s correct that we’ve been able to adapt Vitinha’s style of play, leading to changes in how we previously thought about that particular position on the field.
He brings something different compared to someone like Busquets, who was an exceptional player. Vitinha is also an exceptional player, undoubtedly. But their styles are distinct.
I believe my staff and I have done a good job in nurturing Vitinha’s talent and making him a valuable asset to the team, while also allowing us to function well as a collective.”
Thomas Frank Joins the Debate With His Take on the Situation
Despite the loss to Paris, Tottenham manager Thomas Frank was clearly impressed with Vitinha’s performance.
After the game, even in defeat, he acknowledged that Vitinha’s individual quality had ultimately made the difference.
Speaking to the press, Frank said: “I was happy with how we played. It was the response I was looking for from the squad.
We’ve all been putting in a lot of effort – the players, the coaches, and myself – to ensure we could react positively and recover quickly after a disappointing result, because that’s incredibly important.
Today, I saw more of the kind of team spirit we’re trying to build. Much more resilience, individuality, and intensity.
These are three key qualities that any team needs, regardless of their style of play, formation, or tactics. We displayed those today, and that’s what I’m encouraged by.”
“Naturally, I believe our overall showing, our execution on the pitch, was at a level where we could have realistically taken something positive from the match, perhaps a tied score or even a victory.
So, the fact that we allowed several goals is a bit disappointing, a source of annoyance, really.
Obviously, the one scored by Vitinha, while not perfectly placed in the very highest part of the net, was still a remarkably well-placed shot, finding the upper portion of the goal.
And then, undoubtedly, the third and fourth goals we conceded are precisely the kinds of scores we must prevent if we hope to achieve a favorable outcome in these kinds of games.
However, there are still some encouraging aspects we can learn from and improve upon. Our forwards managed to find the net twice, which is a real positive.
I felt the entire team, as a whole, put in a good effort and performed effectively. Archie Gray and Lucas Bergvall both showed promising signs, which is encouraging.
Considering we were facing a strong and capable opponent, a team that features a previous winner of the Ballon d’Or and, in my opinion, what will be the next recipient of the award playing in midfield – Vitinha… Well, what a fantastic player he is!”
Frank went on to emphasize to TNT Sports: “Vitinha, in my estimation, is currently the finest midfielder on the planet.
I fully expect him to be recognized as the world’s best player and claim the Ballon d’Or in the future.”
Following their victory against Tottenham, PSG maintains a strong position near the top of their Champions League group. They currently hold second place with 12 points, trailing only Arsenal.
With three games left in this stage, the current titleholders are close to guaranteeing themselves a spot in the round of 16, thereby bypassing the challenging play-off round.
Looking ahead, PSG faces a demanding series of upcoming games. They first travel to play a heated match against rivals Monaco on Saturday, followed by a home game against Rennes.
After this, they have another crucial Champions League game against Athletic Club, where PSG aims to solidify their position as a top contender in Europe and progress to the knockout stages.
