Ballon d’Or 2026: Luis Enrique questions Vitinha’s 14th-place finish

Paris Saint-Germain manager Luis Enrique has expressed disappointment with Vitinha’s 14th-place finish in the 2026 Ballon d’Or rankings, insisting that the Portuguese midfielder deserved a higher position.

Vitinha played a key role as PSG secured their second consecutive UEFA Champions League title but finished behind teammate Achraf Hakimi, who occupied 13th place.

According to Daily Post Nigeria, Enrique praised the 26-year-old’s technical ability and contribution to the French champions during a press conference on Thursday.

“We know him well, so we’re not surprised. It’s a real pleasure to have a player with such technical and physical ability,” the Spanish coach said.

He added: “His level is incredible. We’re very pleased to have a player of his calibre, even though he wasn’t ranked as highly as he deserves to be in the Ballon d’Or rankings.”

Enrique further stressed: “He is incredibly talented… he deserves a better ranking in the Ballon d’Or award.”

Vitinha’s 14th-place finish represents a significant drop from his third position in 2025. Bayern Munich striker Harry Kane won the 2026 award ahead of Kylian Mbappe and Lamine Yamal, while no PSG player made the top five.