Raphinha emerged as one of many frontrunners for the 2025 Ballon d’Or after an outstanding 2024-25 marketing campaign, the most effective season of his profession to this point. However after the Brazilian winger was denied the next spot within the rankings, his nationwide workforce teammate Neymar reacted with a blunt message: “It’s a joke.”
Because the Ballon d’Or social media accounts revealed the rankings from the listing of 30 nominees, many anticipated Raphinha’s identify to be held till the ceremony, with the FC Barcelona star tipped as a reputable prime contender. As an alternative, with the highest spots nonetheless in play, he was introduced in fifth place.
With Ousmane Dembélé finally topped the 2025 Ballon d’Or winner, Raphinha completed behind Lamine Yamal (2nd), Vitinha (third), and Mohamed Salah (4th). The rating prompted a stir, notably with followers questioning Salah’s place forward of the Brazilian after the Liverpool ahead’s solely main trophy was the Premier League title.
The announcement sparked backlash from supporters, and Neymar joined in with a powerful response. Commenting on an Instagram put up by @ofuiclear exhibiting the Ballon d’Or prime 10, the Santos star wrote: “Raphinha at 5 is an excessive amount of of a joke.” His phrases rapidly drew consideration and fueled the talk throughout social media.
2025 Ballon d’Or listing, with Raphinha in fifth.
Teammates throughout Brazil’s 2022 World Cup marketing campaign, Neymar and Raphinha have constructed an in depth relationship on and off the sector. Now again at Santos as he works to rediscover prime type forward of the 2026 World Cup, Neymar seized the possibility to publicly again his teammate, simply as he did with Vinícius Jr. following final 12 months’s Ballon d’Or controversy.
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Raphinha’s 2025-26 season
Alongside teenage sensation Lamine Yamal, Raphinha has been one among Barcelona’s most decisive gamers, serving to safe a home treble with La Liga, Copa del Rey, and Supercopa de España titles, outshining Actual Madrid in every competitors. The key disappointment got here within the UEFA Champions League, the place Barca fell brief within the semifinals in opposition to Inter Milan.
Individually, Raphinha was Barca’s second-highest scorer behind Robert Lewandowski (42), whereas main the squad in general aim contributions with 34 targets and 25 assists in 57 appearances. With these numbers, many believed he had a powerful case for a top-three end, which explains the frustration amongst followers, and Neymar’s sharp protection of his teammate.
