Raphinha finished fifth in the 2025 Ballon d’Or
Months after the 2025 Ballon d’Or ceremony crowned Ousmane Dembélé as the world’s best player following his treble-winning season with Paris Saint-Germain, Raphinha has reopened the debate.
The Barcelona winger, who finished a surprising fifth in the final standings, believes the broader picture of the 2024-25 campaign tells a different story.
Dembélé’s Champions League triumph with PSG ultimately tipped the scales in his favour, underlining how decisive Europe’s premier competition can be in shaping Ballon d’Or narratives.
But while the Frenchman celebrated continental glory, Raphinha quietly produced one of the most complete individual seasons in world football, blending elite numbers with domestic dominance in Spain.
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The Brazilian was instrumental as Barcelona lifted La Liga, the Copa del Rey and the Supercopa de España, ending the campaign with a remarkable 39 goals and 25 assists across all competitions.
Week after week, he delivered, whether unlocking deep defences, finishing decisive chances, or carrying the attacking burden in high-pressure moments. Reflecting on the outcome months later, Raphinha made it clear he felt his consistency across the entire season merited more recognition.
“I think I deserved to be first in the Ballon d’Or for the titles I won, numbers I achieved and everything I contributed. It’s mainly an award based on a single competition (UCL), and Dembélé deserved it too, but if we talk about the overall season, I think I deserved to win, yes,” he told SofaScore.
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