Portugal head coach Roberto Martinez has made a bold claim by tipping midfielder Vitinha to win the prestigious Ballon d'Or award, following Paris Saint-Germain's historic treble-winning season.

Vitinha played an instrumental role in PSG's remarkable campaign, which saw the French giants secure the Ligue 1 title, Coupe de France, and cap it off with an emphatic 5-0 victory over Inter Milan in the Champions League final.

Speaking to A Bola after Portugal's 2-1 triumph over Germany in the UEFA Nations League on Wednesday night, Martinez expressed his admiration for the midfielder's contributions.

"Vitinha is a player who has been essential for PSG to win everything they have won," Martinez stated. "He deserves to be awarded the Ballon d'Or."

The Portuguese tactician's endorsement comes as a surprise to many, especially considering Vitinha's PSG teammate Ousmane Dembele is widely regarded as the leading candidate for football's most coveted individual honor this year.

Martinez's comments also notably overlook his national team captain Cristiano Ronaldo, who has previously won the Ballon d'Or five times throughout his illustrious career.

The Portugal national team is currently enjoying good form, with Ronaldo netting the winner in their recent victory over Germany, securing their qualification for the Nations League final.

This development adds another interesting dimension to the Ballon d'Or race, which has seen several other contenders emerge. Football legend Luis Figo recently tipped Barcelona's young sensation Lamine Yamal for the award, while former Chelsea defender Frank Leboeuf has expressed doubts about Dembele's chances of winning.

As the football world awaits the announcement of this year's winner, Martinez's endorsement highlights Vitinha's rising stock in global football and could potentially influence the voting for the prestigious award.