FC Barcelona’s return to Stamford Bridge brought an unexpected twist before the ball even rolled: Raphinha finally spoke — clearly, directly, and without filters — about his disappointment with his position in the Ballon d’Or voting.

The Brazilian, who delivered a monster season both statistically and in terms of impact, finished fifth, behind Ousmane Dembélé, Lamine Yamal, Vitinha, and Mohamed Salah. Until now, his frustration had only surfaced indirectly through stats he posted on social media. This time, he went straight to the point.

He didn’t make excuses, but he did claim what he believes he earned. Honest, calm, but firm — Raphinha made it clear his season deserved a different level of recognition. At the same time, he acknowledged the big missing piece: not winning the Champions League, the trophy that continues to haunt Barça’s dressing room.

“I Deserved Much More”

Facing reporters, Raphinha didn’t dodge the topic.
“I deserved much more, but these are individual awards, and collectively we missed the Champions League — that’s what we want,” the winger said, mixing resignation with certainty.

Then came the ironic laugh, when he explained he can’t control awards voting:
“These aren’t things I control. People, journalists… I only control what happens on the pitch.”

For him, his numbers and performances speak loudly enough.

A Season No One Can Argue With

Raphinha’s year doesn’t need context or excuses:
57 matches, 34 goals, 26 assists.

He also finished as the Champions League top scorer, tied with Serhou Guirassy of Borussia Dortmund. That’s elite-level production, full stop.

So when asked why he didn’t finish higher in the Ballon d’Or voting, he shot the question back:
“You’re the ones who should explain that.”

He avoided turning it into a controversy, but his ambition was clear:
“I did everything I could. I’ll keep trying to be better, that’s it.”

A Lingering Sting… and a Message Moving Forward

The Ballon d’Or sting is still there — that much is obvious. But it’s not a roadblock. Raphinha is playing in full “prove them wrong” mode, reclaiming protagonism in this Champions League campaign and cementing himself as one of the most decisive players in Hansi Flick’s Barça.

With Stamford Bridge as the next stop and Barça needing points in Europe, the Brazilian arrives hungrier than ever.
The debate over awards is behind him. What lies ahead is another chance to prove — again — that his name belongs much higher on every list.