Ballon d’Or 2025: Raphinha insists nomination is ‘already a victory’ after being shortlisted with Lamine Yamal, Robert Lewandowski and Pedri
Published 20/08/2025 at 08:16 GMT+1
Raphinha has established himself as one of the world's best players following an outstanding year with Barcelona, which yielded La Liga, Copa Del Rey and Supercopa success. He is now one of the main contenders to win the Ballon d'Or in September, but the Brazilian insists he is happy merely to have his name spoken about in the conversation. The winner will be announced on September 22.
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Raphinha played down his chances of Ballon d’Or glory and highlighted the significance of being nominated for football’s most prestigious individual award.
The Brazilian was named as one of the 30 nominees, with the ceremony taking place in Paris on Monday, September 22.
He played a starring role in helping Barcelona to a domestic treble, scoring 34 goals and registering 25 assists in 57 appearances across all competitions.
When asked about his chances of winning the award, Raphinha coyly answered: "I think I will do my best to be better than I was.
"With everything I've been through in my career, being at the ceremony is already a victory for me. One of the biggest in my professional life. It's not really a goal that I set for myself.
"My goal is to be better than I was yesterday, to be better than I was last season. So, if I'm at the Ballon d'Or ceremony, that's already a victory for me."
The 28-year-old is one of four Barca players to be nominated, the others being Pedri, Robert Lewandowski and Lamine Yamal.
It has led to a claim from Barcelona president Joan Laporta that the award must go to a player from his club this year.
He then clarified that point further, appearing to suggest that teenage sensation Yamal should be the one to emerge victorious next month.
He said: "The Ballon d’Or has to go to a Barcelona player.
Lamine is a great player, and he shows it in every game. And what a Ballon d’Or winner does is show it in training. Hopefully, Barca will win everything at the gala."
Meanwhile, Raphinha's and Yamal's team-mate Robert Lewandowski believes he missed out on an opportunity to win the France Football prize after the 2020 Ballon d'Or was cancelled.
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The 36-year-old was part of a Bayern Munich side which claimed the Bundesliga title and won the UEFA Champions League that year.
He told the BBC: "I was in the best moment of my career, I won everything with my club. I think the difficult thing with that case is that, until now, I don't know why.
"Nobody can understand the situation. It is like, part of the football or part of something, partly politics."
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