Brazilian superstar Neymar has openly criticized Raphinha’s fifth-place finish in the 2025 Ballon d’Or rankings, calling it “a big joke” in a post on his Instagram account. The comment comes as reactions flood in from fans, pundits, and players alike, many of whom believe the Barcelona forward had a season worthy of a higher standing.
Official results show that Raphinha finished 5th in the 2025 Ballon d’Or, behind Ousmane Dembélé, Lamine Yamal, Vitinha, and Mohamed Salah. Neymar’s outburst reflects a sense of injustice shared by a portion of the football community, who believe Raphinha’s performances—across goals, assists, and decisive contributions—were undervalued.
Raphinha’s 2024–25 campaign was nothing short of impressive. Playing a key role for Barcelona, he contributed heavily in both domestic league and Champions League fixtures, combining goals and assists in a manner that put him among the most productive attacking players in Europe.
This criticism from Neymar adds to ongoing debates about the Ballon d’Or voting process—specifically, whether fine margins, narrative weight, or player popularity sometimes overshadow raw statistics and consistency in tough matches. Past winners and nominees have often sparked controversy, but few instances generate uproar from within Brazil’s own footballing community. Neymar’s bold statement puts the spotlight directly on how Raphinha’s contributions were judged in comparison to his peers.
Barcelona will no doubt feel the pressure to respond, especially since Raphinha is part of a bright crop of talent with expectations rising at Camp Nou. For Neymar, the outburst may also reflect loyalty and belief in his compatriot at a moment when many believe Raphinha deserved more. Whether this will lead to broader calls for reform in the awards process remains to be seen.
In the end, the final verdict stands—Raphinha placed 5th—but the conversation sparked by Neymar’s words ensures the debate over who should have won will continue long after the Ballon d’Or lights go out.
Africa Digital News, New York
