Rewritten Content:
Sevilla’s head coach, Luis Garcia, expressed disbelief that Barcelona’s Raphinha was overlooked for the Ballon d’Or nomination, calling it “a joke.” Raphinha played a pivotal role in Barcelona’s recent 3-1 victory over Sevilla, scoring a hat-trick that helped the team maintain its perfect start to the season.
This year, the Brazilian has primarily taken on the role of centre-forward for Barcelona, especially after the exits of Robert Lewandowski and Ferran Torres. He has made a remarkable mark in the 2026-27 season, contributing to 15 LaLiga goals (12 goals and three assists) in just seven matches, a record for the 21st century, matched only by Karim Benzema during Real Madrid’s 2021-22 season.
Moreover, Raphinha has set a new milestone by being the first player to score three goals in two consecutive LaLiga matches since Antoine Griezmann did so in February 2018, having also netted a hat-trick against Racing Santander earlier in the week.
The nominees for the Ballon d’Or are determined by players’ performances from the previous season, but Raphinha did not make the 30-man shortlist. “It’s unbelievable that he hasn’t even been nominated for the Ballon d’Or,” Garcia remarked during the post-match press conference. “He’s a game-changer; this is why I have little faith in these awards. He does everything.”
Last season, Raphinha contributed to Barcelona’s consecutive LaLiga titles, despite struggling with injuries. In 33 matches, he netted 21 goals and provided seven assists across all competitions, ranking behind only Lamine Yamal (41) and Fermin Lopez (30) for goal contributions with each having played over 40 matches.
Fan Take: This matter resonates deeply with soccer fans as it highlights the ongoing debate about recognition in the sport, particularly regarding players who make significant impacts but often go unnoticed in awards discussions. Raphinha’s snub from the Ballon d’Or could catalyze conversations about accountability and fairness in player evaluations, potentially influencing future award criteria.
Source: www.soccernews.com
