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RAPHINHA BELIEVES BALLON D’OR AWAITS HIM

Barcelona's Raphinha remains confident he can win the Ballon d'Or in the future, using his 5th-place finish as motivation. The Brazilian winger is grateful for his successful season and is driven to achieve more with his team.

Raphinha Believes Ballon d’Or Awaits Him
Raphinha Declares: ‘I’ll Win the Ballon d’Or Soon' - Image via Barcelona FC

Despite not winning the coveted Ballon d'Or this year, Barcelona striker Raphinha expressed his confidence about the future and stated that he still thinks he may win it one day.

The Brazilian winger, who placed fifth in the 2025 Ballon d'Or rankings, has already said that, considering his season, he was a little disappointed by the outcome. 

Despite this, Raphinha maintains a positive and resolute mindset as he pursues more achievement on both an individual and group level.

Raphinha's 2024–2025 season was unquestionably his best to date. 

He scored an incredible 34 goals and provided 25 assists in 57 games across all competitions, playing a key part in Barcelona's domestic treble and advancing the team to the Champions League semi-finals. 

Many were therefore shocked to learn that the Barcelona player did not place among the top three in the Ballon d'Or voting. 

Given his impact at the club and international levels, even Neymar, one of Brazil's best current players, stated that Raphinha should be ranked higher.

Now, Raphinha discussed his Ballon d'Or journey and the lessons he learned from it in an interview with GQ (via Fabrizio Romano).

"I believe I will have the opportunity to win the Ballon d'Or in the future," he stated.

"Football is full of cycles," the Brazilian continued. I think I still have a lot of years left to accomplish new objectives.

Raphinha is utilising the experience as motivation and energy instead of feeling frustrated. 

"I do not regard fifth place as pressure, but as an incentive. I am aware of my potential.

Lastly, he expressed his appreciation and humility by stating, "Football is a team sport, but the Ballon d'Or is an individual honour. 

"When I consider what I accomplished with Barça and Brazil, I realise how much I should be grateful for rather than disappointed.

"That encourages me to continue," he said. 

BARCELONA FANS CALL ON JOAN LAPORTA TO EXPLAIN MESSI’S DEPARTURE

Former Barcelona director Xavier Vilajoana demands Joan Laporta reveal the "real reason" Lionel Messi left in 2021. He criticizes Laporta's financial management, claiming the club has lost €1 billion in value.

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Laporta Faces Calls To Reveal Messi Departure Truth - Photo Credit: Getty Images

Joan Laporta, the president of Barcelona, has been challenged to explain to supporters the "true reason" why Lionel Messi left the team in 2021.

Laporta added that he "does not regret" Messi's 2021 exit, and the Barca president's opponent and former board member Xavier Vilajoana is curious as to why the greatest of all time left.

The reason for Messi's departure was money. The best player in the world was reportedly out of the club's price range. "I can not see it anyplace today if it was financial," he said at a press conference.

"Let Laporta tell us the true reason why Messi was fired before I end with a question."

Vilajoana said there are still a lot of financial issues and criticised Laporta's time at the club.

"Barça has no future without responsible administration." I have listened to the members over the past few months. There is no reason not to listen to the members if the club is theirs," he continued.

"They claim to have saved the club, but they would have lost one billion euros—the current value of the first team—had they not sold their current assets.

For four years, they have been concealing and lying about the numbers. Barça is a respectable team that ought to lead by example. Instead of assuming ownership of the club, the president is tasked with managing it. The number one billion is horrifying.

BARCELONA PRIORITIZE HARRY KANE TO FILL LEWANDOWSKI STRIKER ROLE

Barcelona are targeting Harry Kane as Robert Lewandowski's successor. Reports suggest Barça could activate a £57m clause to sign the Bayern Munich striker, viewing him as the ideal long-term replacement.

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Barcelona Eye Harry Kane As Top Choice - Photo Credit: ANDY BUCHANAN/AFP

Harry Kane is Barcelona's top aim to take Robert Lewandowski's job. The Spanish champions may be willing to activate the option in Kane's Bayern Munich contract that would allow him to depart for £57 million in the summer because they believe the 32-year-old England captain is the perfect younger replacement for the 37-year-old Lewandowski, whose contract expires in June.

Kane has been a big success at Bayern since joining them from Tottenham for £100m in August 2023, scoring an astounding 108 goals in 113 games and in September became the fastest player this century to hit 100 goals for a team competing in one of Europe’s top five divisions. In May, he also broke his trophy drought after helping Bayern win the Bundesliga again.

Last month, Kane expressed his willingness to remain at Bayern after his current contract expires in June 2027. But Barcelona, who already have an England international in Marcus Rashford on its roster, might lure him in with the promise of joining one of the biggest clubs in the world and competing for more major awards. The forward is currently on loan from Manchester United, but his contract with Barcelona has a clause that would enable them to pay £30 million to sign him permanently.

Barcelona's president, Joan Laporta, has also dismissed the idea of Lionel Messi rejoining the team. This week's visit to Camp Nou by the Argentine raised rumours that he would be returning from Inter Miami. Laporta told Catalunya Radio, "It is not the time to speculate with ridiculous ideas out of respect for Messi, our players, and our members."

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