Luis Enrique backs Vitinha in PSG Ballon d'Or push

Paris Saint-Germain have made their collective strength part of the Ballon d'Or conversation, with Luis Enrique highlighting Vitinha among four players he considers capable of winning the award. The club has nine nominees, more than any other team, giving the coach an additional source of motivation.

Enrique raised the subject after PSG defeated Slovan Bratislava 6-1 in the Champions League on Wednesday. Khvicha Kvaratskhelia and Désiré Doué remained on the bench for that match, but the coach still singled out Kvaratskhelia as a possible winner alongside Ousmane Dembélé, Vitinha and Fabian Ruiz.

The Portuguese midfielder, 26, plays in defensive midfield for PSG. His inclusion underlines the breadth of the Parisian club’s representation in the 30-player list. The other PSG nominees are Achraf Hakimi, Willian Pacho, Marquinhos, Nuno Mendes and Joao Neves.

Dembélé is seeking to retain the prize, while Kvaratskhelia has emerged as a strong candidate after his previous Champions League campaign. He received the competition’s best-player award for last season before the Bratislava match. Enrique also indicated that the support currently heard for Dembélé could later be directed towards another PSG nominee, reflecting the club’s belief that the award can remain within its squad.