Sao Brazil upset as Raphinha fails to win the Ballon d'Or

Richarlison shows astonishment that Raphinha finished just fifth in the 2025 Ballon d'Or.

The 2025 Ballon d'Or ceremony at the Chatelet Theatre (Paris, France) concluded with Ousmane Dembele (Paris Saint Germain) taking the top prize. However, alongside the joy of the new winner, public attention was drawn to Tottenham Hotspur forward Richarlison’s reaction to the result received by his Brazil teammate, Raphinha.

Among the final top 5, Barcelona’s Raphinha placed fifth, behind Mohamed Salah (Liverpool). This outcome surprised many, as the Brazilian winger had an explosive season, scoring 34 goals and providing 25 assists in 57 matches, playing a key role in Barcelona’s domestic treble win including La Liga, Copa del Rey, and the Spanish Super Cup.

This surprise led Richarlison to break his silence. Minutes after the rankings were announced, the Spurs forward posted on his Instagram Story the news that Raphinha came in fifth place, accompanied by an embarrassed face emoji. This direct move revealed his displeasure with how the votes were allocated.

Not only colleagues, Richarlison and Raphinha are close teammates on the Brazil national team. They have shared the field 11 times, notably making an impact at the 2022 World Cup in Qatar. They also combined to score two goals in a 5-1 friendly victory against Tunisia. This close relationship made Richarlison feel even more unfair about seeing his friend “disappointed” in the world’s most prestigious award voting.

Many Brazilian fans share the same view, believing Raphinha deserved a higher ranking due to his consistent performance and impressive team achievements. However, some argue that competing against Champions League stars like Dembele and Vitinha limited Raphinha’s chances.

Although he didn’t make the top 3, finishing fifth remains a significant milestone in Raphinha’s career, cementing his status among the world’s elite players today. With his excellent form at Barcelona and support from teammates, Raphinha can confidently aim for a strong comeback in the coming seasons.