Vitinha (footballer, born February 2000)

Vítor Machado Ferreira (born 13 February 2000), known as Vitinha (Portuguese pronunciation: [viˈtiɲɐ]), is a Portuguese professional footballer who plays as a midfielder for Ligue 1 club Paris Saint-Germain and the Portugal national team.

In this Portuguese name, the first or maternal family name is Machado and the second or paternal family name is Ferreira.
Vitinha
Vitinha playing for Paris Saint-Germain in 2023
Personal information
Full name Vítor Machado Ferreira[1]
Date of birth (2000-02-13) 13 February 2000
Place of birth Santo Tirso, Portugal
Height 1.72 m (5 ft 8 in)[2]
Position(s) Midfielder
Team information
Current team
 Paris Saint-Germain
Number 17
Youth career
2006–2007 Desportivo das Aves
2008–2011 Póvoa Lanhoso
2011–2019 Porto
2015–2016 → Padroense (loan)
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2019–2020 Porto B 14 (8)
2020–2022 Porto 38 (2)
2020–2021 → Wolverhampton Wanderers (loan) 19 (0)
2022– Paris Saint-Germain 44 (3)
International career‡
2017 Portugal U17 1 (0)
2018 Portugal U18 7 (0)
2018–2019 Portugal U19 18 (3)
2019–2021 Portugal U21 22 (1)
2022– Portugal 12 (0)
Medal record
Men's football
Representing  Portugal
UEFA European U21 Championship
Runner-up2021 Hungary–Slovenia
UEFA European U19 Championship
Runner-up2019 Armenia
*Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of 18:02, 26 October 2023 (UTC)
‡ National team caps and goals, correct as of 21:33, 16 October 2023 (UTC)

Coming through Porto's youth system, Vitinha impressed during his time with the reserve team before being promoted to the first-team in 2020, winning a domestic double of the Primeira Liga and the Taça de Portugal in his first season. He was loaned to Premier League club Wolverhampton Wanderers in September 2020, before returning the following season. He established himself as an integral player for Porto winning a second domestic double, being named in the Primeira Liga Team of the Year and winning the Best Young Player of the Year award. In June 2022, he joined Paris Saint-Germain for a transfer worth €41.5 million.

Vitinha is a former Portugal youth international, representing his country at various youth levels, being part of the under-19 and under-21 teams that finished as runners-up in the 2019 UEFA European Under-19 Championship and 2021 European Under-21 Championship, respectively. He made his senior international debut in 2022, representing Portugal at the 2022 FIFA World Cup.

Club career

2019–20: Early career

Vitinha was born in Santo Tirso. He started playing football at Desportivo das Aves, where his father formerly played for the club, aged 7, before moving to Pinheirinhos de Ringe, where he started to stand out alongside goalkeeper and future teammate Diogo Costa. After going through some training sessions with Benfica, he was integrated into one of Benfica's feeder club Póvoa de Lanhoso, where he stayed for three years, before being dismissed because of his slight frame.[3] Despite Sporting CP being interested in him, Vitinha ended up joining the youth ranks of FC Porto two years later, aged eleven, being subsequently loaned to Padroense for a season.[4]

He made his LigaPro debut for the reserve team on 11 August 2019 in a game against Sporting da Covilhã.[5] He was also part of Porto's squad that won the 2018–19 UEFA Youth League.[6] On 28 January 2020, Vitinha made his first appearance for the first team, coming on as a substitute for Wilson Manafá in the 61st minute in a match against Gil Vicente.[7] He made a total of eight appearances as the club won the league title.[8]

2020–21: Loan to Wolves

On 9 September 2020, Vitinha moved on a season-long loan to English Premier League club Wolverhampton Wanderers.[9] The club held an option to make the loan into permanent deal at its conclusion for a fee of €20 million, as Porto were forced to loan him due to UEFA's Financial Fair Play regulations.[9] He made his debut on 14 September away to Sheffield United as a second-half substitute,[10] and his first start three days later in a home EFL Cup defeat to Stoke City.[11]

Vitinha made his full Premier League debut away to Manchester United on 29 December 2020, a game which Wolves lost narrowly to a deflection in added time.[12] On 22 January, he scored his first goal for the club with a 35-yard strike in a 1–0 away win over non-League team Chorley in the fourth round of the FA Cup.[13] At the end of the season, the club declined to exercise his buy option.[4]

2021–22: Return and domestic double

Vitinha began the 2021–22 season on the bench, but following his impressive performances during the 2021 UEFA European Under-21 Championship, he began finding more and more space as a starter, scoring his first goal for the club in a 3–0 away win against Portimonense on 3 December.[14][4] On 23 December, Vitinha impressed during the 3–0 home over rivals Benfica in O Clássico in the Taça de Portugal, scoring and assisting a goal, as he was named man of match.[4] Shortly after Sérgio Oliveira departed to Roma in January 2022, Vitinha further consolidated his place as starter, impressing Porto's manager Sérgio Conceição, with his performances without the ball and his pressing, being named the league's Player of the Month and Midfielder of the Month for two consecutive months in December and January, a feat which he repeated in March.[4][15]

Vitinha would contribute to 47 appearances, with a goal in the 3–1 defeat of Tondela in the domestic cup final, to help Porto win the domestic double of the Primeira Liga and the Taça de Portugal, while also being named in the Primeira Liga Team of the Year and the Primeira Liga Best Young Player of the Year.[16][17][18]

Paris Saint-Germain
Vitinha warming up for Paris Saint-Germain in August 2022

On 30 June 2022, Vitinha signed a five-year contract with Ligue 1 side Paris Saint-Germain (PSG), for a fee of €41.5 million, after triggering the release clause of his contract.[19][20]

Vitinha made his debut for the club on 31 July, starting in PSG's 4–0 victory over Nantes in the Trophée des Champions, registering a 100% passing rate, completing 43 out of his 43 passes, while also being booked in the match and winning his first trophy with the club.[21] Afterwards, his performances throughout the season were highly lauded, and he received various praises on the central midfield combination of him and Marco Verratti and for his quick adaption into his new team, despite fierce competition from more experienced players like Carlos Soler, Renato Sanches and Fabián Ruiz.[22][23] On 15 April 2023, Vitinha scored his first goal for PSG, a long-range strike in a 3–1 home victory over Lens.[24] During the season, he was a key contributor to his team's record 11th Ligue 1 title.[25]

International career

Youth

Having played at various youth levels for Portugal, Vitinha was named captain for the under-19 squad at the 2019 UEFA European Under-19 Championship in Armenia, playing all five matches, scoring twice and assisting once as the team finished runners-up to Spain.[26]

Vitinha was named in the under-21 squad for the 2021 UEFA European Under-21 Championship. He was named for the team of the tournament as Portugal finished as runners-up after losing in the final 1–0 to Germany, on 6 June 2021.[27]

Senior

On 21 March 2022, Vitinha received his first call-up to the senior squad for the 2022 World Cup qualification play-offs, as a replacement for the injured Rúben Neves.[28] Eight days later at his club ground, he made his senior national team debut, replacing João Moutinho in added time in a 2–0 victory over North Macedonia in the play-off final.[29]

In October, he was named in Portugal's preliminary 55-man squad for the 2022 FIFA World Cup in Qatar,[30] being included in the final 26-man squad for the tournament.[31]

Style of play

"“I played with similar players, of course, with all due respect, Iniesta and Xavi, [...] they are players who control the tempo and pace of the game whether in possession or out of possession. It is the player who will make small mistakes when necessary. If he is high, he is the player who will make the pass when necessary."

— Thierry Henry on Vitinha's playing style[32]

Vitinha is a highly creative and technically gifted playmaker, with excellent dribbling skills and ball control, which allows him to operate effectively in a deep-seated playmaking role as a central midfielder, although he is also capable of playing in a more advanced role as an attacking midfielder. He is a central midfielder who enjoys taking the ball off the toe of his centre-back before distributing to a teammate near or far, but always with forward momentum in mind. His skill and quick control make it almost impossible for the opposition press to work when he is in possession.[33] He is really good at progressing the ball and has the ability to get the ball into dangerous locations with his passes and is extremely quick with his feet and is good at evading players. He excels in counter-pressing, recovering and tackling. He is very quick-witted when it comes to creating counter-attacks right after winning the ball. Off the ball, he tries to prevent the opposition's attacks, and when he is on the ball, he helps his side in retaining the ball as he has excellent on-the-ball composure. He is also very good at reading the game and intercepting the ball, when it comes to winning the ball back he knows when to strategically foul the opponent in order to slow down an attack.[34]

Personal life

Vitinha's father is Vítor Manuel, a former professional footballer who played as a midfielder for several clubs including his hometown's Desportivo das Aves for several years and Faro's Farense from 1999 to 2001.[35]

Vitinha and his wife Tatiana Torres have a daughter born in 2021, named Mafalda Ferreira.[3]

Career statistics

Club
As of match played 25 October 2023[36]
Appearances and goals by club, season and competition
Club Season League National cup[lower-alpha 1] League cup[lower-alpha 2] Europe Other Total
DivisionAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoals
Porto B 2019–20 LigaPro 148————148
Porto 2019–20 Primeira Liga 80301000—120
2021–22 Primeira Liga 302720010[lower-alpha 3]0—474
Total 38210210100—594
Wolverhampton Wanderers (loan) 2020–21 Premier League 1902110——221
Paris Saint-Germain 2022–23 Ligue 1 36230—8[lower-alpha 4]01[lower-alpha 5]0482
2023–24 Ligue 1 8100—3[lower-alpha 4]000111
Total 44330—11010593
Career total 11513153202101015416
  1. Includes Taça de Portugal, FA Cup, Coupe de France
  2. Includes Taça da Liga, EFL Cup
  3. Six appearances in UEFA Champions League, four appearances in UEFA Europa League
  4. Appearances in UEFA Champions League
  5. Appearance in Trophée des Champions

International
As of match played 16 October 2023[37]
Appearances and goals by national team and year
National teamYearAppsGoals
Portugal 202280
202340
Total120

Honours

Porto Youth

Porto

Paris Saint-Germain

Portugal U19

Portugal U21

Individual

References
  1. "2020/21 Premier League squads confirmed". Premier League. 20 October 2020. Retrieved 28 October 2020.
  2. "Vitinha". Paris Saint-Germain. 13 February 2000. Retrieved 5 July 2023.
  3. "Vitinha Childhood Story Plus Untold Biography Facts". Life Blogger (in Portuguese). 29 April 2019. Retrieved 25 October 2022.
  4. "Vitinha, um regresso inesperado e uma afirmação categórica".
  5. "Game Report by Soccerway". Soccerway. 11 August 2019.
  6. Almeida, Isaura (29 April 2019). "FC Porto é campeão Europeu Sub-19" [FC Porto are Under-19 European champions]. Diário de Notícias (in Portuguese). Retrieved 23 September 2020.
  7. "Porto vs. Gil Vicente - 28 January 2020". Soccerway. 28 January 2020.
  8. "Juventus held by Sassuolo in thriller, Porto win Primeira Liga title". The Guardian. 16 July 2020. Retrieved 16 July 2020.
  9. "Wolves sign highly-rated midfielder". Wolverhampton Wanderers F.C. 9 September 2020.
  10. Rose, Gary (14 September 2020). "Sheffield United 0–2 Wolverhampton Wanderers: Nuno praises special Wolves". BBC Sport.
  11. "Wolverhampton Wanderers 0–1 Stoke City". BBC Sport. 17 September 2020.
  12. Stone, Simon (29 December 2020). "Manchester United 1–0 Wolverhampton Wanderers: Marcus Rashford scores late winner". BBC Sport. Retrieved 29 December 2020.
  13. Stone, Simon (22 January 2021). "Chorley 0–1 Wolverhampton Wanderers: Vitinha's superb goal sees Wolves past non-league opponents". BBC Sport. Retrieved 22 January 2021.
  14. "Portimonense 0-3 FC Porto, Liga Portugal Bwin (Ex Liga Nos), résultat du match (03/12/2021)".
  15. "Vitinha eleito médio e jogador do mês na Liga".
  16. "Vitinha integrates the Liga Portugal bwin Team of the Year". Liga Portugal. 23 June 2022. Retrieved 10 August 2023.
  17. Ribeiro, Patrick (7 May 2022). "Zaidu winner takes Porto to the title away to bitter rivals Benfica". PortuGOAL. Retrieved 7 May 2022.
  18. Farr, Jamie (22 May 2022). "Taça de Portugal Final: Porto take down Tondela to seal domestic double". PortuGOAL. Retrieved 22 May 2022.
  19. "Vitinha joins Paris Saint-Germain through to 2027". Paris Saint-Germain F.C. 30 June 2022. Retrieved 30 June 2022.
  20. "Vitinha: Midfielder joins PSG from Porto for £34m". BBC Sport. 30 June 2022. Retrieved 30 June 2022.
  21. "A final, lots of goals and a trophy: a great start to the season!". Paris Saint-Germain F.C. 31 July 2022. Retrieved 31 July 2022.
  22. "The big-money signings battling for World Cup spots". FIFA. 31 July 2022. Retrieved 25 October 2022.
  23. "Marquinhos admite surpresa com Vitinha e elogia um jogador do Benfica". O Jogo. 5 October 2022. Retrieved 25 October 2022.
  24. ""I've been searching for that a long time" – Vitinha opens PSG account in style [video]". portugoal.net. Retrieved 5 May 2023.
  25. "PSG novamente campeão em França com empate em Estrasburgo" [PSG champions in France again with draw in Strasbourg]. Diário de Notícias (in Portuguese). 27 May 2023. Retrieved 28 May 2023.
  26. "Spain win 2019 U19 EURO: at a glance". 27 July 2019. Retrieved 31 July 2019.
  27. "Highlights, report: Germany beat Portugal for third U21 EURO title". UEFA.com. 6 June 2021. Retrieved 7 June 2021.
  28. "Vitinha convocado" (in Portuguese). Portuguese Football Federation. 20 March 2022.
  29. Fernandes, Mariana; Paredes, Diogo (29 March 2022). "Portugal vence Macedónia do Norte com bis de Bruno Fernandes e está no Mundial do Qatar (2-0) - como aconteceu" [Portugal defeat North Macedonia with a brace from Bruno Fernandes and are in the World Cup in Qatar (2-0) - how it happened]. Observador (in Portuguese). Retrieved 29 March 2022.
  30. "The list of pre-selected squad for the 2022 World Cup: know all the names". Record. 23 October 2022. Retrieved 31 October 2022.
  31. "Os 26 convocados de Portugal: Gonçalo Ramos, António Silva, Otávio e Matheus Nunes chamados" [Portugal select 26: Gonçalo Ramos, António Silva, Otávio and Matheus Nunes called] (in Portuguese). SAPO. 10 November 2022. Retrieved 10 November 2022.
  32. "PSG Newcomer has former Barcelona player making Andres Iniesta, Xavi Comparisons/". PSG Talk. 19 October 2022.
  33. "Vitinha, PSG's new midfield magician". www.ligue1.com. 5 July 2022. Retrieved 25 October 2022.
  34. "Vitinha - A Star in the Making". medium.com. 8 April 2022. Retrieved 25 October 2022.
  35. Vítor Manuel, zerozero.pt https://www.zerozero.pt/player.php?id=9042
  36. Vitinha at Soccerway. Retrieved 6 November 2022.
  37. "Vitinha". National Football Teams. Benjamin Strack-Zimmermann. Retrieved 10 December 2022.
  38. Almeida, Isaura (29 April 2019). "FC Porto é campeão Europeu Sub-19" [FC Porto are Under-19 European champions]. Diário de Notícias (in Portuguese). Retrieved 15 September 2019.
  39. "FC Porto é o campeão nacional 2019/2020" [FC Porto is the 2019/2020 national champion] (in Portuguese). Rádio e Televisão de Portugal. 16 July 2020. Retrieved 23 April 2021.
  40. "Taça de Portugal: FC Porto conquista "dobradinha"" [Portuguese Cup: FC Porto wins "double"] (in Portuguese). Deutsche Welle. 2 August 2020. Retrieved 23 April 2021.
  41. Scott, Andy (27 May 2023). "PSG win record 11th French title". Yahoo! Sports. Retrieved 29 May 2023.
  42. "A final, lots of goals and a trophy: a great start to the season!". Paris Saint-Germain F.C. 31 July 2022. Retrieved 1 August 2022.
  43. "Vitinha voted Liga Portugal bwin's Young Player of the Year". Liga Portugal. 5 July 2023. Retrieved 10 August 2023.
  44. "Best of January: Vitinha named Player of the Month once again". Liga Portugal. 18 February 2022. Retrieved 10 August 2023.
  45. "Best of March: Vitinha wins Player of the Month in Liga Portugal bwin". Liga Portugal. 14 April 2022. Retrieved 10 August 2023.
  46. "Vitinha: "I'm living the dream"". Liga Portugal. 19 April 2022. Retrieved 10 August 2023.
  47. "Vítor Ferreira eleito a revelação do Torneio de Toulon" [Vítor Ferreira elected the Breakthrough Player of the Toulon Tournament] (in Portuguese). Portuguese Football Federation. 15 June 2019. Retrieved 4 May 2020.
  48. "Maurice Revello Tournament 2019 Best XI". Maurice Revello Tournament. 17 June 2019. Retrieved 23 April 2021.
  49. "Under-21 EURO Squad of the Tournament". UEFA. 7 June 2021. Retrieved 21 June 2021.
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