Look back, why don’t you, to last January. Raphinha, the third of Barca’s three marquee 2022 summer signings, with only 2 goals in his previous 19 appearances, was below Ferran Torres in the pecking order, and was being linked with January exits for just 40-50 million, a loss on the 58 million transfer fee paid by Laporta for the Brazilian 18 months prior. How, in just 12 short months, have we seen Raphinha go from this, to an incredibly surprising Ballon D’Or charge?
Everything changed in April, after good performances against Napoli, Atleti, and Las Palmas, Raphinha came to the Parc-des-Princes with momentum (and a new haircut) and had to impress going into this crucial Champions League quarter final tie. As it happened, luck would fall his way after a bumbled Gianluigi Donnarumma claim would fall to the Brazilian’s feet and he’d tap it into an open net, opening the scoring for the tie and starting a chain reaction that led to Raphinha scoring a further two in the tie, and gaining the confidence needed to excel under Flick, and carry his title as Barca’s big-game player, scoring a hat-trick vs Bayern, a goal vs Dortmund, 3 goals in 2 matches vs Real Madrid, and just recently, two goals including a 96th minute winner in an instant classic 5-4 victory vs Benfica.
The Brazilian now has 23 goals and 9 assists in all competitions for Barca and Brazil this season. Vinicius Jr. was perceived as having been “robbed” by Madrid media after scoring 26 and assisting 10 in all competitions in 23/24. However, to be fair to Vini, we know that he was touted for the Ballon D’Or because of his clutch Champions League appearances, scoring 6 in 10 matches and popping up in the biggest moments in the competition. Raphinha couldn’t do THAT, right? Well, what if I told you that Raphinha already has 8 Champions League goals in 7 appearances. On top of that, 6 of those goals came in cruch ties against Bayern, Dortmund, and Benfica. Mind you, it’s still January. The decisive part of the Ballon D’Or race is yet to come, and Raphinha has already nearly matched Vini’s entire Ballon D’Or worthy 2023/24.
In many seasons, Raphinha would be running away with the Ballon D’Or shouts right now. However, having an incredible season of his own, is Mohamed Salah. Despite his age of 32, and FSG’s reluctance to renew his contract, which expires in June, Salah is on track for his best ever season with Liverpool, his unbelievable debut 17/18 campaign included. With 21 goals and 17 assists in 31 games so far, Salah has also been one for the big match. We’ve seen the Egyptian score twice and assist twice in a 6-3 win against Spurs, score and assist in a 2-0 vs City, and score in a 2-2 against Arsenal. Salah also has a GA of 7 in 7 UCL matches, still close to Raphinha’s 10, and has put up a career-best average rating of 8.0 across all competitions this season.
Salah was close to and in fact wanted to leave Liverpool several times over the past few years, and nearly left on deadline day 2023 after Al Ittihad sent a world-record transfer bid for Salah to Liverpool, which was rejected by the Reds, clearly the right decision. These two are now the favourites to succeed Rodri for 2025 Ballon D’Or, who now clearly won’t win it again after an ACL injury back in September that will see the Spaniard miss the rest of the season.
However, with the decisive part of the season still to come, we still have a fair list of others that may have a resurgent second half of the season and win it. This list includes:
Lamine Yamal, already considered by many the best RW in the world at 17 and seeming like Barca’s most important player with 9 goals and 12 assists.
Vini Jr, looking to right last season’s wrongs and being Madrid’s best player so far this season with 15 goals and 9 assists.
Robert Lewandowski, having likely his last Ballon D’Or charge this season after being robbed in 2020 and nearly winning in 2021, scoring 26 and assisting 3 so far this season.
Harry Kane, who’ll likely shoot up to favourite if Bayern can win the Bundesliga and Champions League, with 22 goals and 8 assists in just 23 appearances.
Erling Haaland, who has definite resurgence potential if Man City can turn around their season, with 22 goals and 1 assist.
Cole Palmer has had incredible form with Chelsea so far, with 14 goals and 6 assists, but the Blues don’t seem in good enough position for Palmer to make a serious push this season.
Even Kylian Mbappe could turn around his form and win it, but with just 18 goals and 3 assists and on track for his worst season since season 1 at PSG, he shouldn’t even be in conversations right now.
To sum everything up, this season’s Ballon D’Or charge is looking interesting as ever, and ever since the departures of Messi and Ronaldo to leagues outside Europe, the Ballon D’Or has entered a new era, an era where many players can finally win it, and an era that may just be the best thing for a Ballon D’Or that was becoming incredibly repetitive as it was passed around between the two same players for nearly 15 years. I’m Jim James, and until next time.