The reasons for Raphinha's absence from the Ballon d'Or

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13/10/26 21:00:00

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Raphinha, a 29-year-old forward, is not among the 30 nominees for the 2026 Ballon d'Or, a decision that contrasts with his fifth position in the previous edition. The Brazilian closed the season with 21 goals and 7 assists in 33 league matches, but was hindered by his World Cup participation and Barcelona's elimination in the Champions League quarterfinals. The Barcelona's transfer market is already working on his renewal.

The list published on September 8 also left out Pedri, while Lamine Yamal is among the candidates. The ceremony will take place on October 26 in London, making Raphinha's absence final for this edition.

Raphinha's Weight Loss from his 2024/25 Season

The main statistical argument lies in the comparison between seasons. In 2024/25, Raphinha scored 34 goals and provided 22 assists in 57 matches, winning the League, Copa del Rey, and Supercopa with Barcelona. This performance led him to finish fifth in the Ballon d'Or.

In 2025/26, his numbers decreased to 21 goals in the league, while injuries affected his continuity throughout a large part of the season. Barcelona again won the league title, but Raphinha couldn't reach the offensive figures he had showcased a year earlier.

The disparity was also evident in Europe. Barcelona was eliminated by Atletico Madrid in the Champions League quarterfinals after losing 0-2 in the first leg and winning 1-2 in the second leg, with a 3-2 aggregate in favor of the red and white team. Raphinha was also unavailable for the first match of the tie.

RAPHINHA RESPONDS ABOUT THE BALLON D'OR 🗣️🇧🇷#UCLxDAZN pic.twitter.com/gahi1RF5en

— DAZN Football (@DAZNFutbol) September 9, 2026

The World Cup with Brazil Further Hindered Raphinha

The second factor was his involvement with Brazil. Raphinha played only the first two World Cup matches in 2026, did not score, and then missed out due to muscular issues; the Brazilian national team was knocked out in the round of 16 against Norway.

The contrast with other candidates was notable because the Ballon d'Or takes into account international performance. Lamine Yamal, for instance, is on the list after being one of the key players for Spain in their World Cup triumph, while other candidates amassed titles or impressive stats with their national teams.

Raphinha's absence also sparked a reaction within Barcelona itself. Decodeemed the exclusion of the Brazilian and Pedri unjustified, while the forward avoided entering the debate after scoring two goals against Feyenoord in the opening match of the 2026/27 Champions League.

The current scenario shows that Raphinha has already started to regain form: he has scored eight goals in the first five official Barcelona matches and netted a brace in the first Champions League matchday. However, these numbers belong to the new season and cannot alter a nomination from the previous period.

Raphinha's next goal will be to maintain this pace during the 2026/27 season, with the Champions League as the main stage to re-enter the race for the 2027 Ballon d'Or. Barcelona has already received an initial sign: the Brazilian has scored two goals in European competitions in the new campaign.

This news is an automatic translation. You can read the original news, Los motivos de la ausencia de Raphinha en el Balón de Oro