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Barça’s worst to Ballon D’or frontrunner: The sudden rise of Raphinha

FC Barcelona is widely considered as the current best team in the world, scoring 154 goals in only 48 matches and is one leg in the UEFA Champions League Semis after a convincing 4:0 victory against Borussia Dortmund. Even saying they’re playing good is an understatement, considering the records they’re breaking. With a dynamic frontline of 36-year-old Robert Lewandowski, 17-year-old Lamine Yamal, and 28-year-old Raphinha showing glimpses of arguably the greatest trio in football history in Lionel Messi, Luis Suarez, and Neymar Jr., dreaming about a treble in the Camp Nou seems possible for the first time in 10 years. However, none of this would have happened without Raphinha stepping up for the red and blue. 

Raphael Dias Belloli, more known as Raphinha, is currently the favorite for the Ballon D’or following Mo Salah and Liverpool’s defeats against PSG and Newcastle, ending their trophy chances in the UCL and the Carabao Cup. Once viral for walking across the pitch after surviving relegation with Leeds United, the Brazilian was discovered globally as a passionate player with tireless belief. After leaving with brilliant performances in every huge game this season such as a hattrick against Bayern Munich and five G/A in two El Clásicos, one can say he has truly been monstrous as of late, but, was he always this good?

Bought from Leeds for about €50 million + €5 million in bonuses, the Barcelona fanbase had high expectations for the winger, associating him with club legend and fellow Brazilian Neymar Jr. who the club had struggled to find replacements for ever since his departure in 2018 for PSG. However, he only managed to stack up 22 G/A in 50 appearances in his debut season (22/23) which disappointed the Culers, and was mostly seen on the bench after Ousmane Dembele’s return from injury. But he didn’t show any signs of stopping despite mixed reactions from the people he was willing to ‘kill’ for. 

The then-26-year-old saw himself doing better in the next season following Dembele’s departure, scoring 23 G/A in just 37 appearances, even showing promise against now-Dembele’s team, PSG, in the UCL quarterfinals with 3 G/A in both legs despite the heartbreaking comeback loss, but still wasn’t safe from transfer talks due to his injury problems and overall disappointing stint for the club. 

Following two ‘underwhelming’ seasons under then-manager Xavi, the Brazilian expressed disappointment in his lack of minutes and found his future in FC Barcelona uncertain with rumors of Euro 2024 starboy Nico Williams’ signing spreading across social media. The prominent winger who was once loved by the Whites was facing backlash from the Culers. Even the once passionate footballer had started to consider packing his bags as his mental state was in the dumpster. However, one phone call changed his life.

Hansi Flick, the new manager for the Blaugrana, saw him brimming with potential and placed all his trust on the struggling Brazilian, emphasizing his passion and mentality, eventually rekindling his motivation and transforming him into a goalscoring machine, with 28 goals and 22 assists in just 45 appearances this season. But what really unleashed him?

The German manager’s preferred playstyle is a free, counter-attacking, highline and high-pressure 4-2-3-1 formation, which was proven effective by his historical sextuple season with Bayern Munich back in 2020. Despite an ineffective spell at Germany which led to him being the first ever sacked manager for their national team, the fans found new hope in his footballing approach. And so did the team. The now vice-captain was put on the left wing, similar to Xavi, however he was advised to play more centrally as a second striker behind Lewandowski.

With free-flowing football and individual brilliance from the whole Barcelona squad, the Brazilian winger gobbled and created more chances, shocking the entire world and earning the fans' complete trust with great performance after great performance, eventually touching Ballon D’or conversations where he currently leads. 

And now, he just made history as the Brazilian with the most UCL goal contributions (19) in a season despite having only played 11 games and being in the quarterfinals. He is also one of the main reasons for Barcelona’s undefeated run in 2025. 

Raphinha’s sudden jump is definitely one for the books, and Barcelona wouldn’t be where they are right now without him. With a world-class roster fielding Lewandowski, Yamal, Ferran Torres, Dani Olmo, Pedri, Frenkie De Jong, Marc Casado, Gavi, Fermin Lopez, Alejandro Balde, Pau Cubarsi, Inigo Martinez, Ronald Araujo, Jules Kounde, Szczęsny, and more, the 10-year UCL drought could finally end, alongside another treble.