Raphinha has undoubtedly been one of Barcelona’s standout players this season. The Brazilian forward has performed at his highest level, leading Barça to the brink of winning La Liga, a title that could be confirmed this week.

Additionally, he played a key role in their Copa del Rey and Spanish Super Cup victories against Real Madrid. His individual performances, combined with team success, have made Raphinha a strong contender for the Ballon d’Or.

In an interview with Barça Universal on X, he said: “I don’t think about the Ballon d’Or; it’s not a goal I’ve set for myself. But if I win it, it will be because of the efforts I’ve made for my club and national team. My goal is to win trophies with my team. Individual awards come later, and if they don’t, it’s fine. Many send me memes about the Ballon d’Or, but I don’t care. My goal is to win with my team and perform at my best.”

One of the key figures in Raphinha’s resurgence has been Hansi Flick, whom he highly praises: “I stayed at Barça because of Flick. He told me I would be an important player in his plans. He cares about players. Those who don’t play get upset, but he doesn’t want to leave anyone out. He wants to build a strong team. His human side, his concern, his fairness… He wants to win with confidence.”

Another name Raphinha mentioned was Neymar, one of his footballing idols and former teammate in the Brazilian national team. However, the two forwards were closest when they played together at Barcelona. Since leaving for Paris Saint-Germain in the summer of 2017, Neymar has always wanted to return to Barça. He tried hard but never received final approval for a comeback.

Raphinha spoke about his conversations with Neymar: “There was a lot of talk about Neymar returning to Barça. I told him: Come back, you know this club loves you, the fans adore you, everyone wants you back. But in the end, the decision wasn’t up to me or him.”