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Barcelona Captain Raphinha Questions Ballon d’Or Criteria After Harry Kane’s Win
Amir Azimi
Basketball

Barcelona Captain Raphinha Questions Ballon d’Or Criteria After Harry Kane’s Win

Barcelona had one of their standout seasons in recent memory during the 2024/25 campaign, clinching a domestic treble under Hansi Flick. Raphinha was a key figure throughout that season for Barça, but despite his impressive performances, he ended up fifth in the Ballon d’Or voting the following year.

Recently, Raphinha showed support for a TikTok video posted by content creator Dani Quintana that questioned the consistency of the Ballon d’Or criteria after Harry Kane was crowned the winner on Monday. This video drew attention to similarities between Kane’s success and Raphinha’s achievements the previous year.

Comparing Raphinha’s 2024/25 Season with Kane’s Triumph

Kane secured the 2026 Ballon d’Or after an outstanding run with Bayern Munich, scoring 73 goals and providing eight assists in 65 games. Alongside those numbers, Kane also collected three domestic trophies and reached the Champions League semi-finals.

Meanwhile, during his 2024/25 campaign, Raphinha played a pivotal role in helping Barcelona win La Liga, the Copa del Rey, and the Spanish Super Cup, while also reaching the Champions League semi-finals. He contributed 56 goal involvements and was both the top scorer and assist leader in Europe’s premier club competition.

Despite these feats, Raphinha ranked fifth in the 2025 Ballon d’Or standings, with Ousmane Dembele eventually taking home the prize after PSG’s successful season.

One of the Most Controversial Ballon d’Or Results in Recent Memory

The 2025 Ballon d’Or results remain a topic of debate, mainly because many felt Raphinha deserved a higher position. While Ousmane Dembele's award was not undeserved, Raphinha’s fifth-place finish seemed too low given his impact.

Kane’s 73-goal season rightly deserves praise, yet Raphinha’s influence extended beyond scoring, including his creativity, pressing, and attacking runs that greatly benefited Barça.

Now as Kane basks in Ballon d’Or glory after a comparable season in terms of honors, questions linger about how candidates are evaluated across different years.

We think Raphinha was treated unfairly last season and will likely aim to deliver another strong campaign to boost his chances next time.

  • Barcelona 2024/25 Season Achievements: La Liga, Copa del Rey, Spanish Super Cup, Champions League semi-finals
  • Raphinha’s Stats 2024/25: 56 goal contributions, top scorer and assist provider in Champions League
  • Harry Kane 2025/26 Stats: 73 goals, 8 assists in 65 appearances
  • Kane’s Team Achievements 2025/26: Three domestic trophies, Champions League semi-finals
  • Ballon d’Or 2025 Ranking: Ousmane Dembele (winner), Raphinha (5th)
  • Ballon d’Or 2026 Winner: Harry Kane

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