Dubai, United Arab Emirates
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When Portugal begins its World Cup marketing campaign in Houston on June 17, two names shall be on the forefront of Seleção midfielder Vitinha’s thoughts: Diogo Jota and André Silva.
Memories of their sudden, tragic passing a mere six months in the past stay uncooked for the common-or-garden, dignified 25-year-old who was an in depth pal of the brothers.
“It’s difficult to talk about it,” he informed NCS Sports after successful the Best Midfielder Award on the latest Globe Soccer Awards in Dubai, United Arab Emirates.
“Nobody desires to be on this form of state of affairs. It was a tragic and tragic loss for everybody.
“Mainly, I imagine what it is like for, for the parents, for the wife, for the children… that’s what I think about the most when I think about him.”
For the proficient midfielder, the brothers’ enduring memory shall be a supply of private and collective motivation as Portugal goes for glory at this summer time event.
“We feel this and we want to win it, not just because it’s a World Cup and it’s everybody’s dream, but for him as well.”
It’s a dream the midfielder hopes to understand following the nightmare exit he and his compatriots skilled on the final World Cup in Qatar: a surprising defeat to Morocco within the quarterfinals.
He acknowledges that, on that specific day, the Atlas Lions “deserved it, they were better” however is full of reward for a way he and his teammates have bounced again since then, underlined with an announcement victory towards Spain in final summer time’s UEFA Nations League last.
And when it comes the dialogue of which groups stand a practical likelihood of successful the largest prize in world soccer this summer time, he’s in little doubt that Portugal is firmly within the dialog.
“We are one of the best national teams there are, so of course it’s realistic,” he says confidently.
“We should preserve our ft on the bottom. We should assume it’s not straightforward to do it.
“I think we can go far. I think we are one of the candidates, but I won’t put us as favorites.”
While soccer prowess shall be a key consider figuring out the eventual winner, excessive temperatures and the addition of extra fixtures courtesy of an expanded event will add extra difficulties to the duty at hand.
Vitinha himself had first-hand expertise of the challenges to come back having performed a outstanding function within the Paris Saint-Germain group that reached the ultimate of final summer time’s inaugural 32-team FIFA Club World Cup within the United States.
“I loved it there, but it’s really difficult with the heat and charge of the games that we have throughout the season to be there to have to win every game, to do our 100% in every duel, in every game, in every ball,” he recounts.
“We arrive there with our largest purpose to win the World Cup.
“I think the team that will be most prepared for it physically and mentally will thrive.”
Thrive is strictly what Vitinha has finished underneath the stewardship of supervisor Luis Enrique at PSG.
Once a job participant with Les Parisiens, because the arrival of the Spanish coach in the summertime of 2023, the midfielder has develop into an integral determine within the group’s setup.
In dictating the tempo and route of play, he has established himself because the grasp orchestrator of the group; every part runs by Vitinha and full synchronicity in rhythm and construction is there to be seen between himself and the coach.
As an instance, final season the Portuguese star was the most-used outfield participant in Europe’s top-five leagues, taking part in a staggering 72 matches.
“Luis Enrique comes to the club, changed a lot for the club and for me individually,” he explains. “I stepped up my stage and I obtained a unique stage.
“He’s a genius tactically speaking and technically. I think the most important thing he does is the human aspect, the way that he talks to you, the way that he puts you in a natural way.”
Enrique’s team-first strategy has been clear to see with Paris Saint-Germain reworking into world soccer’s dominant pressure in 2025 – and Vitinha is on the coronary heart of their staggering success.
Six trophies received within the calendar 12 months with the crowning glory being a maiden UEFA Champions League title, ending years of look ahead to the Parisian outfit.
Vitinha’s quiet, diligent work fee all through the marketing campaign was clear to all – most aptly demonstrated by him finishing extra passes than some other participant of their profitable marketing campaign.
“It looks like a movie what we did last year. It was one of the best days of my life,” he smiles.
“I dreamed about it. The evening earlier than my first Champions League last 1,000 situations got here by my thoughts.
“I never thought it would be so perfect like it was 5-0.”
Vitinha, although, like his teammates, is way from content material resting on his laurels.
On a person stage, he scored a surprising first profession hat-trick in a 5-3 demolition of Tottenham Hotspur within the league part in November – a efficiency which prompted Tottenham supervisor Thomas Frank to again the midfield maestro to win subsequent 12 months’s prestigious Ballon d’Or.
While he acknowledges the historic efforts of 2025, the Portugal worldwide has now challenged PSG to construct on its success and intention for even grander ambitions as Les Parisiens look to develop into a mainstay in world soccer’s elite.
“What’s done is done. We should get the good things from it,” he says.
“We have to pay attention sooner or later. We’ll have time to see and to benefit from the previous, however I don’t assume getting us previously will assist us now.
“We have a lot of titles to go after, and me and the team will be all for it.”