Raphinha Struggles to Accept His Ballon d’Or Defeat

Just over a month after the Ballon d’Or, Raphinha is still feeling upset. In an interview with GQ España, the Brazilian international discussed his fifth-place finish in the award rankings. He feels it’s unjust considering his outstanding 2024-2025 season, which saw him play 57 matches, scoring 34 goals and providing 22 assists.

“Yes, it was a personal disappointment. When you put in so much effort, work hard every day, and feel like you had an incredible season, you naturally expect to be among the best,” he told GQ España. “Finishing fifth was certainly an honor, but I had higher expectations. At the same time, it taught me humility and helped me keep perspective. The Ballon d’Or is an individual award, but football is a team sport. When I look at everything I achieved with Barcelona and Brazil, I realize how grateful I should be. It motivates me to keep working hard, to keep improving, and I hope to have another chance to fight for the top in the future.”