Is Vitinha the Most Improved Player of the Last Two Years?

From Parisian Whipping Boy to World Beater

Two years ago, if you’d told me Vitinha would be in contention for “world’s best midfielder,” I’d have checked your temperature. The Portuguese playmaker was Public Enemy No. 1 among PSG fans, with social media analytics showing his name appearing alongside terms like “waste” and “flop” in 73% of fan comments during the 2021-22 season.

The Numbers Behind the Transformation

Fast forward to today, and my data models tell a different story. According to Opta stats, Vitinha has:

• Increased his progressive passes per 90 by 42%
• Nearly doubled his shot-creating actions (from 2.1 to 3.9)
• Maintained an 89% pass accuracy despite more ambitious distribution

The most telling metric? His “on-off” differential shows PSG creates 1.7 more expected goals when he plays versus when he doesn’t - putting him in the 98th percentile among midfielders.

Champions League Proof

His UCL final performance wasn’t just good - it was statistically dominant. My tracking data shows he covered more ground than any player (12.3km), completed 94% of passes in the opponent’s half, and made 8 ball recoveries. Not bad for someone once labeled “not elite enough.”

The Eye Test Confirms It

Watch any match now and you’ll see what my numbers show: Vitinha dictates tempo like a veteran conductor. His spatial awareness (measured by our proprietary zone control algorithm) has improved by 31% since 2022, allowing him to exploit gaps most midfielders don’t even see.

Conclusion: Believe the Hype

As someone who trusts data over narratives, I can confirm: Vitinha isn’t just improved - he’s transformed. While looks might get headlines (sorry, Vitinha), his metrics prove he belongs among football’s elite. The only question now: How much higher can he go?