PSG Star Vitinha Aiming for ‘Good Place’ in Ballon d’Or Race With Lamine Yamal & Ousmane Dembélé After ‘Dream Season’

A Midfielder’s Rise Into Football’s Biggest Conversation

For more than a decade, the Ballon d’Or conversation has been dominated by the giants of goal scoring. From Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo to Kylian Mbappé and Erling Haaland, forwards have all too often claimed the spotlight. But this year, the narrative feels different. A new generation of players is pushing into the race, and one of the most intriguing names is Vitinha – Paris Saint-Germain’s dynamic Portuguese midfielder.

After enjoying what he describes as a “dream season” in Paris, Vitinha has openly admitted that he is targeting a strong finish in the Ballon d’Or rankings. He knows the competition is fierce, with names like Barcelona’s teenage sensation Lamine Yamal and PSG teammate Ousmane Dembélé dominating headlines, but the 25-year-old believes his consistency and versatility give him every right to be considered among football’s elite.

What Happened? Vitinha’s Breakthrough Year

The 2023-24 campaign will go down as one of the most successful in PSG’s modern history. Under Luis Enrique, the Parisians finally clicked as a complete team, sweeping the board with a domestic and European quadruple – Ligue 1, the Champions League, Coupe de France, and the Trophée des Champions.

Vitinha was central to it all. No longer just a “facilitator,” he became a conductor in midfield, dictating tempo, breaking lines with intelligent passes, and showing a newfound maturity in big matches. His fingerprints were on virtually every trophy PSG lifted, and his contributions carried over to the international stage as well, where he helped Portugal secure the UEFA Nations League.

“I see it as excellent,” Vitinha reflected ahead of Portugal’s World Cup qualifier against Armenia. “It was a dream season. I’ll certainly remember it. I hope it’s not the best, that there’s better to come. It was an almost perfect season. I felt good. It’s true that I’m among the nominees and I feel like I can aim for a good place. As far ahead as possible, for me, is great.”

Vitinha PSG

The Bigger Picture: Challenging the Goal-Scorer Bias

For years, midfielders have struggled to gain recognition in the Ballon d’Or race. Luka Modrić’s triumph in 2018 remains the exception, not the rule. But Vitinha’s rise highlights a subtle shift. Football is starting to appreciate the all-round influence of midfielders again, not just the players who score goals.

That’s not to say his competition isn’t fierce. Lamine Yamal, just 17 years old, has taken Barcelona by storm. With goals, assists, and an electrifying style, he inspired Barça’s treble-winning season and became the face of Spanish football’s next generation.

Meanwhile, Ousmane Dembélé finally found the consistency many doubted he ever would. Deployed in a more central, false-nine role under Enrique, the Frenchman exploded with a career-best 33 goals across competitions, cementing his place among PSG’s most decisive performers.

Even in his own dressing room, Vitinha faces enormous competition. Add Mbappé’s inevitable presence in the conversation, and it’s clear the Portuguese midfielder will have to fight harder than most to secure recognition. Yet that doesn’t deter him.

What Vitinha Said: A Dream, But Not the Peak

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When speaking about his season, Vitinha’s words reflected a careful balance between pride and ambition.

“It was a dream season. I’ll certainly remember it,” he said. “I hope it’s not the best, that there’s better to come. It was an almost perfect season. I felt good. It’s true that I’m among the nominees and I feel like I can aim for a good place.”

That mentality sums up the player perfectly. Vitinha is not one to get carried away. At PSG, teammates often remark on his grounded nature. For him, success is both a moment to enjoy and a challenge to surpass.

He also acknowledged the weight of expectation on the international stage. Portugal’s recent success means their standards are higher than ever. “We have a different responsibility. When we win, expectations are higher, and it’s up to us to live up to them. We want to show that against Armenia and achieve an important victory.”

Ballon d’Or Dynamics: Can Vitinha Really Compete?

The question that lingers is whether Vitinha has a genuine shot at finishing near the top of the Ballon d’Or race. The reality is complicated.

The Ballon d’Or has historically favoured those who score and create eye-catching highlight reels. That’s why players like Messi, Ronaldo, and Mbappé have dominated the award. But as football evolves, midfielders who embody balance and tactical intelligence are regaining value.

Vitinha’s advantage lies in his trophy haul. A quadruple with PSG plus a Nations League title with Portugal makes for one of the most decorated seasons of any player on the list. His performances were consistently excellent, even if less glamorous than Yamal’s flair or Dembélé’s goals.

If the award panel rewards influence and team impact as much as raw statistics, Vitinha could surprise many with a high finish.

Did You Know?

• Vitinha was once doubted at PSG after his move from Porto in 2022, with critics suggesting he lacked physicality for Ligue 1. His evolution since then has silenced those doubts.

• He is one of just three midfielders on this year’s Ballon d’Or shortlist, underlining how rare it is for central players to be recognised.

• At 25, he is entering what many view as the peak years for a midfielder. With Portugal and PSG, his best may still be ahead.

What Next for Vitinha?

The Ballon d’Or ceremony on September 22 will reveal where Vitinha lands in the rankings. Few expect him to walk away with the golden trophy this year, but even being nominated places him in the conversation with the game’s greats.

Beyond the award, the bigger challenge is sustaining momentum. PSG will expect him to anchor their midfield as they defend their titles and chase another deep run in Europe. For Portugal, he’ll play a pivotal role in their 2026 World Cup qualifiers, starting with a tricky clash against Armenia.

Conclusion: A Midfielder’s Moment

Whether or not Vitinha finishes near the top of the Ballon d’Or race, his journey tells a bigger story: midfielders matter again. In a football world often obsessed with goals, his emergence alongside Lamine Yamal and Ousmane Dembélé shows that influence, adaptability, and intelligence can put you in the same conversation as the sport’s brightest stars.

For Vitinha, the dream season has already happened – but, as he insists, the dream is not over. His focus is now on going further, climbing higher, and proving that his name deserves to be mentioned alongside the very best.

And if this is just the beginning, then the Ballon d’Or may not be out of reach after all.