Standing Up for the Champions
As an Editor tracking the political battlegrounds of individual awards, locker-room loyalty always provides a fascinating editorial angle. Paris Saint-Germain and Portugal midfield maestro Vitinha has officially thrown his weight behind his teammates. Speaking ahead of a massive Champions League showdown against Barcelona, he publicly declared that a Parisian should lift the ultimate prize.
The playmaker stated firmly: “The Ballon d’Or? I believe it would be fair for a PSG player to win it.”
A Packed Shortlist of Contenders
The French capital club heavily dominates the conversation with a record 10 players on the official shortlist. Vitinha believes their back-to-back European trophies justify a historic Parisian triumph. Yet, he fully recognizes that the incoming votes will face extreme fragmentation.
He admitted the difficulty openly: “It’s going to be hard to know who will win it because there are some very great players who could get it, Kylian, Lamine…”
Editorial View
From my perspective, this public diplomacy is a brilliant exercise in team solidarity. Vitinha finished third in last year’s ranking. He could easily push his own stellar claims following his recent Champions League hat-trick. Instead, he is cleverly utilizing his media platform to shield his teammates.
He is openly backing Khvicha Kvaratskhelia, Ousmane Dembélé, and Fabián Ruiz for the crown. Navigating a vote against global giants like Kylian Mbappé or Lamine Yamal is a daunting task. But by keeping the narrative anchored in Paris, he ensures his club remains at the absolute center of world football
