Barcelona star Raphinha believes that just being nominated for the Ballon d’Or is a huge victory for him, considering the struggles he’s faced in his life and career to reach this point.
The Brazilian international has become an exceptional candidate to win the Ballon d’Or given his performances with Barcelona this season, and given that Barça has a great chance of achieving the historic treble.
Raphinha: Being nominated for the Ballon d’Or is enough to be a victory
In press statements, Raphinha was asked about his Ballon d’Or nomination and its significance. He responded, “This award is not a personal goal for me.”
He added, “But if I am nominated for it, it would be a victory for me! I am fully aware of what I’ve been through in my life to get here.”
He continued, “For me, what I can control is my performance on the pitch. Awards and rankings are not in my hands, so I don’t set them as goals.”
Raphinha Reveals His Ballon d’Or Candidates
Meanwhile, Raphinha listed the leading candidates for the Ballon d’Or, noting that Mohamed Salah has a strong chance of winning the most prestigious individual award in football.
The 28-year-old said, “From my perspective, the candidates for the Ballon d’Or are Lamine Yamal, Mohamed Salah, and Kylian Mbappé.”
He continued, “Vinicius’s numbers may be lower than last season, but for me, he’s always in the running for the Ballon d’Or.”
He continued, “There are two players who were underrated and could have been included in the awards, or at least considered, namely Pedri and Rodrygo.”
Raphinha’s Numbers This Season
Before the start of the season, Raphinha was on the verge of leaving Barcelona after receiving a huge offer from Al Hilal, but in the end, thanks to Hansi Flick, he decided to stay at Camp Nou for another year.
Over the past eight months, Rafinha has participated in 52 matches with Barcelona in all competitions, scoring 31 goals and providing 25 assists. He is one of the players with the most goal contributions in the top five leagues.
To date, Rafinha has won the Spanish Super Cup and the Copa del Rey with Barcelona. The Catalans have a good chance of winning the La Liga title, as they lead the league by four points over Real Madrid, as well as the Champions League.
