Neymar has taken a clear swipe at France Football while raging over Raphinha’s final Ballon d’Or position.
The Brazil and Barcelona winger finished fifth in the final vote, while Paris Saint-Germain’s Ousmane Dembele scooped the main prize ahead of second placed Lamine Yamal.
Raphinha played a key role for Barca alongside Yamal as they won three domestic titles last season.
Raphinha was among the favourites to win the Ballon d’Or this year, but when the results finally came out, the former Leeds United attacker finished fifth in the list.
Dembele bagged the Golden Ball for the first time in his career ahead of Yamal, with Vitinha and Mohamed Salah completing the top five.
Neymar takes swipe at France Football
As per The Independent, Raphinha’s finish outside the top three enraged his Brazil national team colleague Neymar, who, in reply to an Instagram post, wrote: “Raphinha in 5th is too much of a joke.”
During the 2024-25 Champions League campaign, Raphinha registered 12 goals and eight assists as he surpassed Lionel Messi’s club record goal contributions tally of 19, which the Barca legend achieved in the 2011-12 season.
The Brazilian also scored 18 league goals as the Catalan side won the La Liga title.
Read more: Ousmane Dembélé Crowned Ballon D’Or 2025 Winner
Barcelona will close out the month with La Liga games against Real Oviedo and Real Sociedad before their attention turns back to the Champions League.
Raphinha will come up against Dembele when Barca host reigning European champions PSG in a blockbuster clash on October 1.
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