Sun May 11 14:50:00 UTC 2025: ## Barcelona’s Raphinha Names Ballon d’Or Contenders, Snubs Dembélé
**Barcelona, Spain** – Barcelona forward Raphinha has weighed in on the Ballon d’Or race, surprisingly naming Real Madrid duo Vinícius Júnior and Kylian Mbappé as top contenders, despite the fierce rivalry between the two clubs. While acknowledging his own impressive 32 goals and 22 assists this season, Raphinha also highlighted Barcelona teammates Pedri and Lamine Yamal, along with Liverpool’s Mohamed Salah, as strong candidates. Notably absent from his list was Paris Saint-Germain’s Ousmane Dembélé.
Raphinha praised Pedri’s crucial role in Barcelona’s success, echoing sentiments expressed by former Real Madrid star Toni Kroos, who recently called Pedri the world’s best in his position. Yamal’s talent was also highlighted, but Raphinha emphasized Pedri’s subtle yet significant contributions.
Despite Real Madrid’s early Champions League exit, Vinícius remains a contender, though his numbers are slightly down from last year. Mbappé, also from Real Madrid, is another name in the mix. Meanwhile, Salah’s Premier League Player of the Year award, winning a remarkable 90% of the vote, bolsters his claim as a potential first African Ballon d’Or winner since George Weah in 1995.
While Barcelona’s Champions League campaign ended in disappointment, their domestic success and the performances of their young stars leave Raphinha optimistic about their chances in the Ballon d’Or race.
First Piper 