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Ousmane Dembele lifted probably the most prestigious particular person prize in world soccer, Lamine Yamal stood proudly beside him on the rostrum, and Raphinha watched from additional down the listing — formally fifth within the 2025 Ballon d’Or standings. On paper, the rating regarded settled. In actuality, the talk was solely starting.
Months after the ceremony, the Barcelona star has made it clear that the wound by no means absolutely healed. Raphinha, who delivered one of the vital productive attacking seasons in Europe, believes the story of the Ballon d’Or was written with selective reminiscence. And now, talking brazenly, he has reignited the dialog — one which subtly sidelines each Dembele and Yamal within the course of.
The numbers alone positioned the Brazilian star among the many elite. He completed the season with 34 objectives and 22 assists, turning into one of the vital decisive gamers throughout Europe’s high competitions. Solely Mohamed Salah recorded extra direct objective involvements in all competitions. With the membership, Raphinha was instrumental in a home treble, lifting the league title, the nationwide cup, and the tremendous cup. In continental competitors, he emerged as joint high scorer, breaking data alongside the best way and delivering persistently towards elite opposition.
But when the Ballon d’Or shortlist narrowed, his title was conspicuously absent from the highest three. As an alternative, the award went to Dembele after a Champions League-driven marketing campaign, with Yamal ending second and Vitinha third. Salah positioned fourth. Raphinha completed fifth — a consequence that stunned many analysts and infuriated the participant himself.
In an interview with SofaScore, Raphinha didn’t conceal his frustration. “I used to be upset. I anticipated extra. I anticipated to be within the high 3 a minimum of. I knew successful could be troublesome as a result of the Champions League weighs so much. So I used to be upset with the place I resulted in,” he admitted. Regardless of acknowledging elements outdoors his management, the Brazilian made it clear that the rating felt unjust. “I perceive it entails many issues I can’t management. Many issues which might be difficult to maintain highlighting. What I can say is that I’m very glad with the season I had — and no particular person award will erase what I did final season.”
Why Raphinha thinks he ought to have gained 2025 Ballon d’Or
When requested straight who ought to have gained the Ballon d’Or, Raphinha didn’t hesitate — and that is the place the thriller lastly dissolves. “Myself, personally, I might place myself first. I might place myself in first place!” he mentioned. Then got here the 10-word clarification that has since echoed throughout soccer circles: “A person award can’t be primarily based on a single competitors.”
With that sentence, Raphinha laid naked his core argument. For him, the Ballon d’Or has drifted away from evaluating a whole season and turn into overly depending on Champions League success. “Primarily based on that, I believe I deserved to be first for what I delivered throughout the season, for the titles I gained, for the numbers I achieved, and for every little thing I contributed on the pitch,” he defined. “I believe I deserved to win.”
The place Dembele and Yamal match into Raphinha’s logic
Curiously, Raphinha was cautious to not diminish the seasons loved by his rivals — whilst he successfully excluded them from his private podium. “As it’s an award that’s virtually primarily based on a single competitors, Dembele deserved to win, particularly since he additionally had a spectacular season. Lamine additionally had a spectacular season,” he mentioned.
However when reshaping the rankings primarily based on his personal standards, the Brazilian made a putting selection. Raphinha positioned himself first, adopted by Lamine Yamal and Pedri, with Dembele pushed all the way down to fourth. That ordering quietly underscored his perception that season-long consistency, not remoted peaks, ought to outline soccer’s largest particular person prize.
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