Neymar's Unexpected Reaction to the Ballon d'Or Controversy

Neymar thinks that his fellow Brazil teammate, Raphinha, is undeserving of a spot in the Ballon d'Or standings.

After a long wait, the 2025 Ballon d'Or winner has finally been announced: forward Ousmane Dembele. This award is a well-earned recognition for an outstanding year filled with many prestigious titles for the striker. The players ranked after Dembele are Yamal, Vitinha, Salah, and Raphinha, respectively.

However, many people still debate the rankings behind Dembele. Recently, Neymar spoke out unexpectedly upon seeing Raphinha placed only fifth. He commented that "Raphinha being ranked fifth is truly a joke".

The 2024/25 season was the best in Raphinha's career. Despite initial doubts about his abilities, throughout the previous season, Raphinha was the most consistent and decisive player in Barcelona’s attack, as reflected in his impressive stats of 34 goals and 25 assists.

He once faced the risk of being offloaded last summer if Barcelona signed Nico Williams, but the Brazilian star overcame the pressure and became a key figure in helping the Catalan club achieve a convincing domestic treble. If Barcelona had won a European cup, Raphinha's status would undoubtedly be different.

Besides Raphinha’s case, the 2025 Ballon d'Or award has sparked other controversies. Pedri was only ranked 11th after an outstanding and highly impressive season. He played a crucial role in Barcelona’s domestic treble victory, including La Liga, Copa del Rey, and the Spanish Super Cup. Internationally, Pedri also significantly contributed to Spain reaching the UEFA Nations League final, confirming his leadership role in midfield at just 22 years old.

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