Portugal star backed for Ballon d'Or after Nations League win

Vitinha has been backed to win the Ballon d'Or following Portugal's surprise UEFA Nations League win over Spain on Sunday night.

European champions Spain were favourites to lift the Nations League in the final over Portugal but were twice pegged back by Nuno Mendes and Cristiano Ronaldo.

It's the second major trophy Vitinha has lifted in the last fortnight having won the UEFA Champions League with Paris Saint-Germain to complete the French club's first Treble.

While the Ballon d'Or race appears to be between wonderkid Lamine Yamal, who won La Liga and the Copa del Rey but failed to reach the UEFA Champions League final, and Ousmane Dembele, who was excellent in the UEFA Champions League final but underwhelmed in France's Nations League semi-final exit, Vitinha has now entered the race after his efforts in the closing stages of the season.

Luka Modric, speaking to Nova TV hailed the PSG man as the best midfielder of last season, saying: "I really like him as a player. He had a phenomenal season. He helps the team play better, he's a game organizer and he's indispensable to the team.

"He showed that in the Champions League and with the national team. In my opinion, he was perhaps the best midfielder last season. He is excellent on the ball, I really like him."

bet365's Steve Freeth said: "The Ballon d’Or market is heating up after the Nations League final. Ousmane Dembele is into 4/9 with Lamine Yamal drifting out to 2/1 after the defeat against Portugal.

"Yamal won’t be at the Club World Cup, but he’s had an incredible season full of goals, assists and will have dazzled the voters.

"Dembele will be in the States, albeit with an injury, but he does have the support of Kylian Mbappe, who has been talking up his fellow countryman. Mbappe might not have won a trophy having left PSG, but he finished the season with a Golden Shoe and could possibly fill his boots in the Club World Cup – at 16/1 we’re taking no chances.

"The biggest mover after the final is Vitinha, 50/1 into 12/1 after winning yet another piece of silverware and looks the form horse heading to the United States."

Liam Williams

• Ballon d'Or
• International Football
• • 
  •