A shock name could challenge Raphinha for the 2025 Ballon d’Or – and it is not one of the six players the Barcelona star named as his rivals.
Raphinha, 28, got on the scoresheet during Barcelona’s 4-3 (7-6 on aggregate) defeat against Inter in the Champions League semi-finals on Tuesday evening (May 6).
And this could have a negative impact on his chances of winning the 2025 Ballon d’Or – although he has still won the Copa del Rey and looks likely to win La Liga as Barca sit four points ahead of Real Madrid with four games left to play.
When speaking to Brazilian journalist Isabela Pagliari, the Brazil international named six other players he thinks could secure the Ballon d’Or.
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"Ballon d'Or? Lamine [Yamal], Salah, Mbappe too,” said Raphinha.
"Pedri, for me, one of the best players in the world.
"Vinicius, for me, is always a candidate, even if his numbers are slightly below last year.
"And, of course, Rodrygo would be considered. He's spectacular, phenomenal, out of the ordinary, one of the best I've ever seen."
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However, after last night’s game, there may be another contender who Raphinha did not mention.
According to Odds Checker, Barca’s Lamine Yamal is the favourite to pick up the award, with PSG’s Ousmane Dembele and Raphinha making up the top three.
Fourth is Liverpool’s Mohamed Salah, as Barcelona’s Pedri is the fifth favourite to win the accolade.
And Inter captain Lautaro Martinez, who scored the Serie A side’s opener on Tuesday, is sixth in the list of favourites, a position which would, no doubt, be bolstered if his side manages to win the Champions League.
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Lionel Messi, Martinez's Argentina teammate, even backed the Inter star to win the 2024 edition of the award.
"[Lautaro] had a spectacular year," Messi said in October 2024.
“He scored in the [Copa America] final and was the best scorer. He deserves the Ballon d’Or more than anyone else.”
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“I entirely agree with Messi,” Inter goalkeeper Yann Sommer told La Gazzetta dello Sport. “I’ve known Lautaro for one and a half years and immediately noticed his immense personality and his captain’s spirit.
“He is a deadly finisher. It would be such a deserved award.”
Martinez finished seventh in the 2024 Ballon d'Or list.
Topics: Football, Ballon d'Or, Raphinha, Lamine Yamal, Barcelona, Champions League, Ousmane Dembele, Lautaro Martinez, Inter Milan
Luke Alfred Davies