Barcelona and Brazil forward Raphinha has openly shared his disappointment regarding his placement in the 2025 Ballon d’Or rankings, stating he had expected to finish among the top three and believed he was deserving of the award itself.
In an interview, the winger did not hide his feelings about the result. “I was sad, I was expecting something better. At least I was expecting to be among the top 3,” Raphinha said.
The prestigious award, organized by France Football, is given annually to the player judged to have performed the best over the previous season. The winner for 2025 was not officially announced at the time of Raphinha’s remarks.
Raphinha acknowledged the heavy influence that team success, particularly in the UEFA Champions League, holds in the voting process. “I know the chances of winning were very low, since the Champions League has a big influence on this award. That’s why my ranking disappointed me,” he explained.
However, the Brazilian international argued for a different standard of judgment, one focused more on personal performance than collective trophies. “For me, I deserved the Ballon d’Or,” Raphinha stated firmly. “I think the individual trophies should not be based on collective results, but since that’s the case, Dembélé deserves it.”
His comment regarding his former teammate Ousmane Dembélé suggests Raphinha believes the French forward, who enjoyed a standout season with Barcelona, is the leading contender for the award under the current criteria.
Raphinha enjoyed a highly productive 2024/25 campaign for Barcelona, being a consistent and decisive attacking force having 44 goal contributions. In La Liga, he recorded 18 goals and 9 assists to help secure the title.
His performances were crucial in Barcelona’s push for domestic and European honors.