Barcelona and Brazil winger Raphinha has opened up on his Ballon d’Or ambitions, reflecting on both his personal achievements and the challenges ahead. Speaking to GQ, the Brazilian highlighted his belief in his potential while stressing the importance of football as a team sport.
Raphinha, who had one of the best seasons of his career in 2024/25 scoring 34 goals and providing 26 assists in all competitions for Barcelona, finished 5th in the Ballon d’Or voting. The award went to former Barcelona star Ousmane Dembélé, who enjoyed a remarkable campaign with PSG, while Barcelona teammate Lamine Yamal claimed a higher spot.
According to top journalist Fabrizio Romano via his official X handle, Raphinha told GQ:
I think I will have the chance to win the Ballon d’Or in the future. Football is full of cycles, I believe I still have many years ahead to reach new goals. I see 5th place as motivation, not pressure. I know my potential.
Still from fabrizio Roman X handle, Raphinha added further perspective on the award and his journey, Romano posted;
Softfootball understands that the Brazilian star has struggled with match fitness this season, even suffering another setback just before Barcelona’s El Clasico clash, which the Catalan side lost 2-1 earlier in the campaign. Despite these challenges, Raphinha’s outlook remains positive as he looks to maintain his high level of performance for both club and country.
With his combination of goal-scoring, creativity, and perseverance, Raphinha’s ambition to eventually lift the Ballon d’Or continues to inspire his fans, and his determination signals that he is far from finished chasing personal and team glory.
