Raphinha names six players who could beat him to 2025 Ballon d'Or including THREE Real Madrid stars

Barcelona star Raphinha has named six players who could beat him to the 2025 Ballon d'Or - including three Real Madrid.

The Brazil winger has been labelled as a strong contender to win the trophy after his incredible season with Barcelona.

He has scored 19 goals and provided 14 assists in domestic competitions - but it is his performances thus far in the Champions League that have most caught the eye.

Raphinha has scored 12 goals and added a further nine assists in just 13 matches - the most total goal contributions out of any player in the competition.

Barca can progress to the final on Tuesday night as they take on Inter Milan in the second leg of their semi-final clash at San Siro.

Typically, the 28-year-old played a key role in the 3-3 draw in the first leg, with his superb 30-yard curling effort crashing off the crossbar before hitting the back of Inter goalkeeper Yann Sommer and rolling over the line.

He also provided the assist for Ferran Torres to make it 2-2 in the first half after Barca had gone 2-0 down to Simone Inzaghi's side.

Heading into the second leg, Raphinha has named the six players he believes could argue they have had a better season than him in the race for the Ballon d'Or.

The winner of the award will, as ever, largely be based on whichever team wins the Champions League - but the Brazilian named three players from already-eliminated Real Madrid as well.

Speaking in an interview with Brazilian journalist Isabela Pagliari, he said: "Ballon d'Or? Lamine [Yamal], Salah, Mbappe too.

"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."

While Vinicius and Rodrygo have played for Real throughout the past 12 months, Mbappe only signed for Los Blancos on a free transfer from Paris Saint-Germain in the summer - meaning he would be nominated for the Ballon d'Or as a player of both clubs.

Salah, meanwhile, has enjoyed his best-ever Premier League season, scoring 28 goals and providing 18 assists in just 35 appearances - though it remains to be seen whether league champions Liverpool's exit from the Champions League at the last 16 stage to PSG will affect his chances.

And Raphinha's team-mates Pedri and Lamine Yamal have both been in incredible form this season, with Yamal recently moving ahead of the Brazilian to be named as the favourite to win the 2025 Ballon d'Or award