Not many would have predicted Raphinha to be having the season he is, but the Leeds United hero is quickly becoming the favourite to win the 2025 edition of the Ballon d’Or.
Barcelona almost went six points clear at the top of the La Liga table on Sunday night, only for Fede Valverde to score a 93rd-minute winner for Real Madrid against Athletic Bilbao, closing the gap to four.
Hansi Flick is starring in his first season as Barcelona manager, with the German also guiding Barcelona into the semi-finals of the Champions League where the Spanish giants will take on Inter Milan next week.
Flick has managed to sort out Barcelona’s leaky defence, put aside the club’s financial problems and get his side playing to their absolute best – bringing the best out of players, none more so than Raphinha.
Cafu makes Raphinha prediction with Ballon d’Or in sight
Thierry Henry has already said Raphinha is favourite to win the esteemed award, which picks the best player in the world. Harry Gray described Raphinha as the world’s best earlier on in the season.
There is still a long way to go until the Ballon d’Or is picked, but Raphinha’s stats are breathtaking. On Saturday, the Leeds United icon took the game by the scruff of the neck with Barcelona losing 3-1.
Celta Vigo were close to securing a shock win, only for Raphinha to orchestrate a late Barcelona win, ending 4-3. Two goals and an assist to take Raphinha to 30 goals this season, and 53 involvements.
Speaking to Spanish newspaper Marca, Brazil’s 2002 World Cup-winning captain Cafu has backed Raphinha to win the Ballon d’Or and even suggested the former Leeds star could have won it before.
“Raphinha has deserved the Ballon d’Or for a long time. This year even more so, for all the numbers and everything he has done in the league, not only in La Liga, but also in the Champions League,” Cafu said.
Why Raphinha would be making Leeds history with Ballon d’Or
Did many see Raphinha going onto reach these kinds of heights? Probably not. But ask most Leeds fans and they will tell you that Raphinha is probably the best player in a Leeds shirt this side of the century.
After his first two seasons at Barcelona, which were steady at best, most Barcelona fans would not have seen this coming either. There was even talk of Raphinha moving to Saudi Arabian side Al Hilal for £85m.
Now, he could win the Ballon d’Or and become the first player to have left Leeds and win the award. It would see Raphinha go down in history at Leeds, a genuine Ballon d’Or winner to have played for Leeds.
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