Barca quietly celebrates as Raphinha misses out on the 2025 Ballon d'Or

Barcelona escaped the obligation to pay 11 million Euros to Leeds United following Raphinha’s miss on the 2025 Ballon d'Or.

The Brazilian star had an outstanding season, scoring 34 goals and providing 22 assists, and was honored as La Liga’s Best Player. However, he only finished fifth in the Ballon d'Or voting, where Ousmane Dembélé (PSG) claimed the title thanks to a historic treble.

When Raphinha joined Barcelona from Leeds in 2022, the contract included several clauses. One of them stipulated that Leeds would receive an additional 11 million Euros if he won the Ballon d'Or. This clause remained valid while he played for Barca, alongside another bonus of similar value if the Catalan club won the Champions League with Raphinha as part of the squad.

Although Leeds has not benefited yet, the chance remains if Raphinha maintains his top form. At 28, he is still in good shape and continues to score since the season started. However, the winger faces fierce competition from stars like teammate Lamine Yamal (runner-up for the 2025 Ballon d'Or), Kylian Mbappé, and Pedri.

Raphinha, along with his wife Natalia Belloi and their son, attended the Ballon d'Or gala, where he was surprised to place only fifth. After the event, Natalia posted on Instagram: “The streets will never forget this season! 61 goals and assists, you are truly amazing!”

In the past season, the Brazilian left a strong mark on Barca’s attacking style. He scored crucial goals in both La Liga and the Champions League, completing the best season of his career. Still, it wasn’t enough to convince the voters, as Dembele took the crown and Yamal finished second.

Related articles

Barca faces a persistent nightmare Barcelona continues to face financial difficulties as Camp Nou’s delayed reopening forced the club to play at Montjuïc, incurring huge costs and significantly affecting their season plans. See more