World Cup, Luis Enrique and the Champions League: Vitinha lets loose | OneFootball

Vitinha, a 25-year-old midfielder for Paris Saint-Germain and Portugal, spoke to CNN on the sidelines of the Globe Soccer Awards ceremony. He discussed playing the 2026 World Cup with ambition and a strong thought for Diogo Jota and André Silva (Portuguese players who died in a car accident last summer), as well as the Champions League and coach Luis Enrique.

Vitinha: "We want to win it for him too."

How do you recover from the tragic accident of Diogo Jota? A special desire in the team to win the World Cup in their honor?

It's difficult to talk about. No one wishes to find themselves in such a situation. It's a tragic and painful loss for everyone. I mostly imagine what the parents, the wife, the children feel... That's what I think about most often when I think of him.

We feel it and we want to win it, not just because it's a World Cup and it's everyone's dream, but also for him.

Vitinha: "We are among the contenders, but I don't consider us favorites."

Can Portugal really aim for the title?

We are one of the best national teams, so of course it's realistic. We have to keep our feet on the ground. We must be aware that it won't be easy. I think we can go far. I think we are among the contenders, but I don't consider us favorites.

You already played in the United States last summer during the Club World Cup.

I loved that place, but with the heat and the intensity of the matches we have throughout the season, it's really difficult to be there, to have to win every match, to give your best in every duel, in every match, on every ball.

We arrive there with a primary goal: to win the World Cup. I think the team that is best prepared physically and mentally will be the one to win.

Vitinha: "He's a genius."

What does Luis Enrique bring?

Luis Enrique arrived at the club and changed everything, for the club and for me personally. I have raised my level and reached a higher level.

He's a genius, both tactically and technically. I think his main asset lies in his human approach: his way of communicating, his ability to make you feel comfortable naturally.

Vitinha: "We must focus on the future."

The Champions League final?

It was like a movie, what we did last year. It was one of the most beautiful days of my life. I dreamed of it. The day before my first Champions League final, a thousand scenarios crossed my mind. I never imagined it would be so perfect, with that 5-0 score.

And now?

It's in the past. We must make the most of it. We must focus on the future. We will have time to reminisce and enjoy the past, but I don't think dwelling on it is useful for us now. We have many titles to conquer, and the whole team and I will be ready to do anything to achieve that.

This article was translated into English by Artificial Intelligence. You can read the original version in 🇫🇷 here.