Reconciliation in the first game? Vitinia speaks out to support Messi: The best player, the former controversy surfaces

FIFA Club World Cup 1/8 finals ended, Paris Saint-Germain swept Miami International 4-0 and advanced strongly. Messi "successfully completed the task". The strength of the two teams is there. One of the football kings can't stand the new Champions League championship. However, at the post-match press conference, the four-champion midfielder stood up and supported the "enemy camp" Messi: "He is still the best player in the world." What's going on?

In the 55th minute of this game, Messi was easily passed by Vitina in a one-on-one defense, and then tried to stop him by swing his arms, which was clearly captured by slow motion. Although this scene caused heated discussion on social media, the referee did not play cards at the time and the game continued. But the "physical contact" between the two also aroused the "grudgement" between the two in Paris-Germain period. However, after the game, the two parties took the initiative to hug and shake hands, as if they had ended the "legend of grudges" with practical actions. Paris Saint-Germain Club also quickly posted photos of the two reconciliation after the game on their official social account, captioning: "Respect, never absent."

For the enlarged interpretation of the outside world, Vitinia took the initiative to respond in an interview: "Messi? I have always respected him very much. It is an honor to be able to fight him. It is incredible that he can still perform like this at this age. He is still one of the best players in the world at present." All the so-called grievances of the two before disappeared.

The two had been teammates in Paris Grande between 2021 and 2023, but according to the French media "Team" published, a "dispute" on the training ground laid a rift of their relationship. It is rumored that Messi expressed dissatisfaction with Vitina's handling of the ball after a high-intensity confrontation, and even said an extremely aggressive accusation in person: "Your weakness hurts us." This sentence once became a "famous quote for locker room conflict" hyped by the French media. Some comments even attributed Vitina's ups and downs in the second half of the 2022 season to "psychological frustration".

However, Vitinia himself does not agree with this narrative. He quickly denied it on social platforms: "I rarely respond to media messages, but this time, I must stand up and say: That is not the truth at all." His tone was firm and his attitude was peaceful. In the 2024-25 season, the Portuguese completely transformed into one of the core midfielders in European football. On the way to achieve the "triple-champion" career of Paris Saint-Germain, Vitinia averaged 91.2% of the pass success rate per game, and ranked among the top in Ligue 1 in interception, steal, key passes and other data. Especially in the Champions League knockout stage, his outstanding performance against Bayern and Arsenal was once known as the "midfield metronome". Then he performed well in the 2025 European League, helping Ronaldo win the European League championship again, winning the four-champion title in one fell swoop, and instantly became a strong contender for the Golden Ball Award. This "reconciliation" between Messi and Vitina just shows the true charm of professional football. "There are no eternal enemies in the arena, only endless competition and respect."