"I was upset. I expected more. I expected to be in the top 3 at least. I knew winning would be difficult because the Champions League weighs a lot. So I was upset with the position I ended in. But I understand it involves many things I cannot control. Many things that are complicated to keep highlighting. What I can say is that I'm very satisfied with the season I had - and no individual award will erase what I did last season."
"Myself, personally, I would place myself first. I would place myself in first place! It is my understanding that an individual award cannot be based on a single competition. Based on that, I think I deserved to be first for what I delivered during the season, for the titles I won, for the numbers I achieved, and for everything I contributed on the pitch. I think I deserved to win."
Raphinha finished fifth in the 2025 Ballon d'Or rankings despite strong individual performances and contributions to Barcelona's multiple-trophy season. He felt upset and expected at least a top-three placement, while acknowledging Champions League success often dominates voting. He expressed satisfaction with his season and insisted that no individual award negates his achievements. He personally believes he should have been first based on seasonal output, titles, statistics, and on-pitch contributions. He also recognized Ousmane Dembele's and Lamine Yamal's outstanding campaigns, noting that the award's emphasis on a single competition influenced the outcome.
Read at Barca Universal
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