Barcelona superstar backed for Ballon d’Or by national team captain – ‘Always offers right words’
Raphinha has firmly established himself as a key figure, not only for Barcelona but also for the Brazilian national team.
The winger is currently experiencing the best season of his professional career, delivering performances that have caught the attention of both fans and football experts.
Within the Brazil squad, his contributions have not gone unnoticed. Marquinhos, the team’s captain, has acknowledged Raphinha’s impact, both in terms of his performances and the mentality he brings to the group.
According to the Paris Saint-Germain defender, those within the national team setup have long been aware of Raphinha’s abilities, but now the wider footballing world is starting to see his true potential.
“Raphinha is a phenomenon. Now everyone sees his potential and everything he can do, something that we already saw internally in the national team.
“We already saw how important he is, his effort, his mentality and his leadership,” he began saying.
Praising Raphinha’s leadership
One of the standout qualities that define Raphinha is his commitment to both attacking and defensive duties.
He is not just a player who excels in creating chances or scoring goals; he also plays with an intense level of responsibility, making sure he contributes to every aspect of the game.
A prime example of his leadership came during Brazil’s recent victory over Colombia. As the match neared its end, Raphinha was seen instructing Vinicius Jr. to leave the field promptly after being substituted.
His concern was that any delay could result in a yellow card for time-wasting, which would have ruled Vinicius out of the crucial upcoming match against Argentina.
“He is very intelligent and always offers the right words. He conveyed that when he fouled Vini and showed himself to be a leader and a possible captain. He did that because he thought of the group first,” Marquinhos added.
Ballon d’Or endorsement
Marquinhos believes that if Raphinha continues at this level for the remainder of the season, he will be in contention for football’s biggest individual awards.
His performances have already put him in the spotlight, and should he maintain this form, he could find himself among the frontrunners for the Ballon d’Or.
“These are things that weren’t seen on the outside, but people were already seeing them on the inside.
“If he continues at the same level from now until the end of the season, he has a good chance of being among the top contenders to win the Ballon d’Or,” he added.
Source: Mundo Deportivo
Topics
-
Raphinha talks about life at Barcelona, Ballon d’Or ambition, Yamal, Lewandowski, Neymar
Barcelona forward Raphinha has been in outstanding form this season, making a significant impact for both his club and the Brazilian national team. His performances have been so impressive that he ...Yahoo Sports - 1d -
Barcelona star reaches 50 G/A contribution for club and country; reinforces Ballon d’Or candidacy
Barcelona forward Raphinha has been in exceptional form this season, delivering outstanding performances for both Barcelona and the Brazilian national team. His consistency in front of goal and ...Yahoo Sports - 4d -
Former La Liga ace highlights Barcelona superstar’s key quality that makes him special
Along with his Barcelona teammate Raphinha, Pedri has emerged as one of the top candidates to win the 2025 Ballon d’Or trophy.This is thanks to Pedri’s wonderful season at Barcelona so far, with t...Yahoo Sports - 6d -
Liverpool superstar praises Barcelona starlet after UEFA Nations League faceoff – ‘Special player’
Barcelona’s prodigal young talents have begun flooding into the Spanish national team and Pau Cubarsi and Lamine Yamal are at the forefront of that revolution.While the latter is a well-established ...Yahoo Sports - 4d -
Barcelona scoring sensation faces his kryptonite – Can he break the curse against Atletico?
Raphinha has been one of Barcelona’s standout performers this season. The Brazilian winger has delivered exceptional numbers, scoring 27 goals and providing 19 assists in 41 appearances across all ...Yahoo Sports - Mar. 15 -
Barcelona attacker second on L’Equipe’s poll for Ballon d’Or favourites
Barcelona’s blistering season under Hansi Flick means Barça players could dominate the podium in the next edition of the Ballon d’Or gala.Raphinha, in particular, stands out in this regard, havin...Yahoo Sports - Mar. 15 -
Watch: Barcelona youth team sensation picks his dream team featuring club legends
Barcelona full-back Gerard Martin has experienced a remarkable rise within the club over the past year. The young defender made his debut for Spain’s U-21 team last Friday, marking yet another ...Yahoo Sports - 2d -
Manchester United ready to spend €70m on Barcelona winger Raphinha
Manchester United have made a strong move for Barcelona winger Raphinha, as per reports.Rasmus Hojlund ended his 21-game goal drought for United in the Red Devils’ 3-0 win over Leicester City. The ...Yahoo Sports - Mar. 17 -
“One of us will win it” – Lamine Yamal on Barcelona Ballon d’Or battle
It has been a magnificent season for Barcelona up until this point, and it is the younger players that have taken over in Catalonia. Lamine Yamal has been one of the stars, but someone that has ...Yahoo Sports - Mar. 18
More from Yahoo Sports
-
Reporter says UConn staffer apologized for men's March Madness incident, 'life rolls on'
Local North Carolina reporter, Joey Ellis, said Tuesday that UConn staffer, Bobby Mullen, and him spoke after a March Madness confrontation Sunday.Yahoo Sports - 22m -
Lauren Macuga is skiing fast and having a blast doing it
Lauren Macuga from Park City, Utah, finished the World Cup season fourth in downhill rankings. She's a medal contender for the 2026 Olympics.Yahoo Sports - 1h -
Swiatek gets extra security after harassment
World number two Iga Swiatek is receiving additional security at the Miami Open after she was harassed by a spectator during her practice.Media reports said that Swiatek was verbally harassed by a ...Yahoo Sports - 2h -
Raiders sign former Panthers veteran starting TE
Tuesday the Raiders added some depth to the tight end room with the addition of longtime Panthers TE Ian Thomas.Yahoo Sports - 5h -
Bengals show more pre-draft interest in notable name
More updates on the Bengals working ahead of the 2025 NFL draft.Yahoo Sports - 13h
More in Sports
-
Pain Index: Whose 2025 NCAA tournament loss hurt most?
Some losses are understandable; others will haunt us forever. Let's break down the 2025 men's NCAA tournament defeats.ESPN - 16m -
'Gotta carry it like a battle scar': Can Yankees bounce back from fifth-inning World Series nightmare?
Starting with their historic Game 5 meltdown, the road to Opening Day in the Bronx has been a rough one.ESPN - 17m -
Premier League stars are tough, but criticism can hurt them and their loved ones
In his latest column, ESPN FC analyst and ex-Man City defender Nedum Onuoha reveals how much attention players pay to all the negative talk about them.ESPN - 20m -
France fix issues, reach Nations League finals. Next? World Cup
France have belief to go with their talent and, after righting the ship to beat Croatia, can look toward 2026.ESPN - 20m -
Champions Argentina qualify for 2026 World Cup
Argentina will get the chance to defend its World Cup title in 2026 after becoming the first South American team to qualify for the tournament in the United States, Canada and Mexico next year.ESPN - 22m