Barcelona trio unfairly under-ranked in 2025 Ballon d’Or – Opinion

The Ballon d’Or is likely to be thought-about one of the vital coveted particular person awards in soccer, however there has all the time been debate about its meritocracy, on condition that it’s determined by votes from journalists world wide.

Some selections have lengthy been baffling to the ardent soccer fan, and the 2025 version was no completely different. Barcelona, specifically, could be justified in feeling laborious carried out by when it comes to the outcomes.

Sure, Lamine completed second behind Ousmane Dembele, however that was not an exaggerated resolution. As a lot as Barcelona followers wished the Spaniard to say the trophy, the Frenchman had the higher 12 months when it comes to workforce success.

Nevertheless, what was completely appalling to see was the rating of different nominated Barcelona gamers: Robert Lewandowski, Pedri, and Raphinha. The Pole, who scored 42 objectives and supplied 3 assists in 52 video games final season throughout all competitions, completed seventeenth.

Lewandowski lifted the home treble with Barcelona, but completed behind Actual Madrid star Vinicius Junior, who scored 22 objectives and supplied 19 assists in 58 video games, and went trophyless. Make sense of that should you can. Nothing beats the 2020 theft, however that is nonetheless one in each sense.

As for Pedri, the Spanish magician who took England by storm together with his efficiency towards Newcastle United at St James’ Park, he completed Eleventh. How the Canary Islands midfielder didn’t make the highest 10 is past comprehension.

Pedri performed probably the most video games for Barcelona final season, lacking just one all through the marketing campaign. He was arguably an important participant for Hansi Flick and the primary title on the workforce sheet, and he not often dropped a poor efficiency.

The 22-year-old was the perfect midfielder on the planet doubtless, and one wonders what standards determined he was solely the Eleventh-best participant on the planet final season. Not that he appears the kind to care.

Lastly, the icing on the spoiled cake: Raphinha. The Brazilian scored 34 objectives and supplied 25 assists in 57 appearances throughout all competitions. He received the La Liga Participant of the Season award and completed as the highest scorer within the Champions League alongside Serhou Guirassy.

When it comes to pure numbers, not many gamers can maintain a candle to the Brazilian within the 2024/25 season. He was decisive in all the massive video games for Barcelona and received three trophies. He was additionally the protagonist for his nation of their World Cup qualification marketing campaign.

Regardless of all this, for some purpose, Raphinha was deemed to complete solely fifth within the Ballon d’Or rankings in Paris. He completed behind Vitinha, who didn’t have nearly as good a person season as him, and Salah, who received fewer trophies.

Don’t take solely our phrase for it once we say Raphinha was carried out soiled. His compatriot, Neymar Jr., labelled it an absolute joke that the 28-year-old completed solely fifth within the rankings. It additional provides to the persistent controversy surrounding the award.

From a Barcelona perspective, all one can hope for is that this setback acts as gas for the gamers, channelling their performances as they give the impression of being to win every thing this season. In the event that they handle that, there might be no stopping them in Paris subsequent 12 months. Allow us to wait and see the way it performs out.