Messi was wrong about Vitinha.

From being seen as an "outsider" by superstars to becoming an irreplaceable conductor, Vitinha is living proof that great qualities often shine through quietly.

Vitinha is expected to explode in the 2024/25 season.

At a time when Lionel Messi, Neymar, and Kylian Mbappe reigned supreme in the PSG dressing room like unmistakable stars, Vitinha was just an obscure name – a young, small player considered "not yet good enough" for the Champions League. But last night in Munich, in PSG's historic 5-0 victory over Inter Milan, it was Vitinha – not any other superstar – who was the true conductor, orchestrating the tempo and deciding the course of the game.

From a player deemed "not good enough" by Messi (despite his denial of a possible argument with the Argentinian legend), to his current position as the heart of PSG's European-winning midfield, Vitinha has not only proven his worth but also raised a major question: is the football world underestimating players like him?

From "the 77th-minute player" to the center of PSG's universe.

Remember when he played for Porto, Vitinha was a familiar substitute player from the 72nd to 77th minute. Brought to Wolves on loan, he made no more than 20 appearances, scored no goals, made no significant impact, and was quickly left behind. At that time, Vitinha was like dozens of other technically gifted midfielders in Portuguese football: lightweight, fluid, but showing no reason to believe he could shine at the highest level.

Wolves didn't sign him permanently - and nobody blamed them. Nobody could have imagined then that the player would become a key figure in the PSG team that won the Champions League just three years later.

Vitinha's success is inseparable from Luis Enrique, who transformed him from a "transfer station" into a "mastermind" on the field. In the system Enrique built, Vitinha didn't just pass – he led, controlled, regulated, transitioned, and, most importantly, created tactical stability in the midfield – an area where PSG had struggled throughout their superstar era.

In PSG's 5-0 Champions League final victory over Inter Milan, Vitinha played the role of playmaker.

Against Inter Milan, all the spotlight might have been on the goals, but the player who changed the pace and flow of the game was Vitinha. The opening goal came from his incisive chip to Desiré Doue – a pass that didn't appear on the assists list, but unlocked Inter's defense. For the third goal, Vitinha was the author of a mesmerizing through-pass that stunned the entire defense – a cold, killer pass that extinguished any hope for the opposition.

In the 2024/25 Champions League season, Vitinha was the player with the most passes in the tournament. He also ranked second in terms of distance covered, only behind his energetic teammate João Neves. But what sets Vitinha apart isn't the quantity, but the quality and context: in a team with high ball control like PSG, maintaining the tempo, avoiding dangerous turnovers, and delivering passes that "increase speed" at the right moment – ​​that's an art.

Against Inter, he completed 44 out of 46 medium-range passes – an incredible performance at high intensity, and key to the fast-paced transitions that PSG executed.

This shows that Vitinha is not the type of player who just "plays in the background." He is the tactical glue, the heartbeat of the team. And to play in that position, it requires more than just technique – it requires a cool head, unwavering confidence, and steely resolve in nail-biting moments.

Lessons for English football and the indifference to the "Vitinha type"

Ironically, Wolves – a Premier League team – once had Vitinha but failed to recognize his potential. But the bigger problem isn't with Wolves, but with the mindset of English football.

To this day, English football still lacks a midfielder like Vitinha: not muscular, not fast, but able to read the game, know how to "calm down" the match, and control space without physical contact. He was once considered weak and lacking in "fighting spirit." But modern football has shifted: dominance no longer lies in muscle, but in intelligence. And Vitinha is a clear embodiment of that trend.

Vitinha is now a key player for PSG.

While England are still struggling to find a solution in midfield – where Kalvin Phillips is underperforming, Henderson is aging, and Jude Bellingham is pushed too far forward – even a "half-Vitinha" would be enough to strengthen and elevate the team.

Returning to the question of whether Vitinha was actually scolded by Messi, that story has now become a legend. However, a career always needs a "slap in the face"—whether real or imagined—to provide motivation. From Messi's shadow, from the skeptical gazes of the French media, Vitinha has now become a truly world-class player, and PSG—for the first time in many years—doesn't need superstars to win.

Luis Enrique is shaping a disciplined, structured PSG team that no longer relies on individual moments. In that squad, Vitinha may not be the most prominent player, but he is indispensable – much like a silently operating power unit in a German luxury car.

And soon, at the FIFA Club World Cup – where PSG will compete for the world club championship – Vitinha will once again be the name to pave the way. Who knows, this time he might even make Messi – if he's watching – smile bitterly.

PSG's 5 goals in the Champions League final: In the early hours of June 1st, PSG shone brightly and created the Champions League final with the biggest margin of victory in history.

Source: https://znews.vn/messi-da-sai-ve-vitinha-post1557563.html