Raphinha Slams Ballon d'Or Selection: Yamal Is the One to Win, Me and Pedri Were Blackballed!

Barcelona captain Raphinha has spoken out after being omitted from the Ballon d'Or 30 nominees, calling the selection process unfair. In a recent interview, he argued that the award should be decided based on a combination of individual statistics, team results, and trophies won. Looking ahead, Raphinha is focused on winning the Champions League and La Liga with the Blaugrana, aiming for a domestic treble. When it comes to the 2026 Ballon d'Or, the Brazilian full-back is a firm backer of Lamine Yamal, citing the teenage Spaniard's exceptional individual numbers, club success, and World Cup title. He also dismissed the notion that a poor World Cup performance should not count as an advantage, pointing out that his own World Cup outing was lackluster and trophyless, whereas Yamal returned with the championship. When asked about Kylian Mbappe's claims of being deserving of the award, Raphinha stood by his belief that Yamal is the strongest candidate.