Barcelona winger Raphinha has criticised the Ballon d’Or voting process after finishing fifth in the 2025 rankings, insisting that “you have to be friendly with the people who vote” to win the award.
Stellar Season, Controversial Outcome
The Brazilian produced a remarkable campaign, contributing 56 direct goal involvements (34 goals, 22 assists) in 57 appearances, helping Barcelona secure a domestic treble in 2024-25 and reach the Champions League semi-finals, where they were knocked out by Inter. Despite this, Paris Saint-Germain’s Ousmane Dembele won the award, with Lamine Yamal, Vitinha, and Mohamed Salah also ranking above Raphinha.
Frustration With Voting System
Raphinha highlighted the influence of player-relationships with journalists in determining individual awards. “I have no control over anything off the field. Ultimately, you have to be friendly with the people who vote,” he told Cadena SER. He added that while team achievements matter most, individual recognition is also important: “If I told you that individual awards weren’t important, I’d be lying.”
Focus on Barcelona’s Campaign
At 29, Raphinha has already won the Toresky Award for Best Athlete of the Year. Despite injury setbacks this season, he remains focused on helping Barcelona lift more trophies, including LaLiga, the Copa del Rey, and advancing deep in the Champions League.