Barcelona superstar receives Ballon d’Or backing from Brazil legend – ‘He deserves it’ | OneFootball

Brazilian legend Cafu has thrown his full support behind Raphinha, boldly claiming the Barcelona star deserves to win the Ballon d’Or this year.

The former Brazil captain, widely regarded as one of the greatest right-backs in football history, did not hold back in his praise for the Barça winger, who is currently enjoying the best season of his career under Hansi Flick.

Speaking to MARCA, Cafu said:

“Raphinha has deserved the Ballon d’Or for a long time. This year, even more so, because of all the numbers and everything he has done in the championship, not only in La Liga, but also in the Champions League.”

Raphinha deserves the praise

While many may have overlooked Raphinha in discussions around football’s top honours, the numbers speak for themselves.

The Brazilian forward has racked up a staggering 30 goals and 23 assists across all competitions this season—a level of output that places him firmly among the elite performers in Europe.

Raphinha has been involved in more than 50 goals this season. (Photo by Alex Caparros/Getty Images)

Although his form dipped slightly after the international break, Raphinha quickly silenced critics with a decisive performance against Celta Vigo, netting a crucial brace in a dramatic 4-3 win that kept Barcelona’s treble hopes alive.

What makes Cafu’s endorsement even more compelling is the context in which Raphinha is delivering. Barcelona are still in the running for a historic treble, competing for La Liga, the Copa del Rey, and the UEFA Champions League.

Should the Catalan giants go all the way, it would significantly strengthen Raphinha’s claim for the Ballon d’Or, given his instrumental role throughout the campaign.

Under Flick, Raphinha has not only flourished statistically but has also added maturity to his game, becoming more consistent, tactically versatile, and decisive in big moments.

His work rate, creativity, and finishing have made him indispensable in Barcelona’s attack, often stepping up when the team needed inspiration.

Hence, if Barcelona do lift all three major trophies this season, it would be difficult to ignore the Brazilian’s influence and even harder to deny his claim to the most prestigious individual award in football.