Raphael Dias Belloli, better known as Raphinha, has reached a new level in his Barcelona career. On Sunday in Dubai, he was named LaLiga’s Best Player of the 2024–25 season at the Globe Soccer Awards, a recognition that perfectly encapsulates a year of brilliance, resilience, and leadership for the 29-year-old Brazilian.
A Year That Defined a Leader
In 2025, Raphinha became more than a winger. He became a reference point, a voice, and a symbol of consistency for Hansi Flick’s Barcelona. Across the year, he contributed 24 goals and 15 assists, in addition to seven more goals and three assists already registered since the start of the current campaign. These numbers would be remarkable for any forward, but they are even more impressive considering he missed nine matches through injury.
His return from a thigh issue was not just about recovery; it was about reaffirmation. Each time he stepped onto the pitch, he radiated the same intensity and conviction that have made him indispensable to Flick’s system. In a year when the team secured three domestic titles, Raphinha’s energy and productivity were the driving force behind Barcelona’s dominance.
Excellence Beyond Statistics
Statistics tell one story, but Raphinha’s 2025 was defined by much more than numbers. His performances carried emotional weight. Whether delivering decisive moments in LaLiga or leading by example during difficult fixtures, he played with the maturity of a man who has learned to balance ambition with purpose.
Last season’s campaign was his finest yet. With 34 goals and 26 assists in 57 appearances, Raphinha finished as joint top scorer of the Champions League with 13 goals, matching Borussia Dortmund’s Serhou Guirassy. Yet, in the grand theatre of football awards, he found himself just outside the spotlight, finishing fifth in the 2025 Ballon d’Or voting.
For many, it was a surprise. For Raphinha, it was a moment of honesty. “It was an honor to be among the best,” he told GQ, “but my expectations were higher after everything we achieved as a team and what I accomplished individually.” His words reflected not frustration, but the hunger that has always fueled his journey.
When later asked if missing the Ballon d’Or top spots affected him, his answer was calm and direct: “It does not keep me awake at night. I care more about what we win as a team.” That statement, echoed again in his message at the awards in Dubai, revealed a player at peace with his place in the game and focused on what truly matters.
The Respect of a Dressing Room
Inside Barcelona’s locker room, the respect for Raphinha is unanimous. Fermín López described him as “the standard of training intensity,” someone who pushes every session higher. Pedri went further, calling him “one of the most decisive players in the team,” especially in the biggest matches.
For Hansi Flick, Raphinha has become the embodiment of evolution. The coach has highlighted how much he has improved tactically, learning when to stay wide, when to cut inside, and how to dictate tempo in the final third. Flick recently said it was “a joke” that Raphinha did not appear in FIFA’s Team of the Year, insisting that “his contribution should place him in any elite list.”
Beyond the Pitch
Away from the cameras, Raphinha’s year was also marked by quiet generosity. Back home in Porto Alegre, he continued to support social initiatives for children and families in need. Those close to him describe his efforts as genuine acts of gratitude rather than gestures of publicity. His commitment to giving back mirrors the same authenticity he shows on the pitch.
The Complete Footballer
The greatness of Raphinha’s 2025 lies not only in goals and awards, but in balance. He has evolved as a player and as a person, showing that maturity and ambition can coexist. He is vocal about disappointment, yet never disrespectful. Competitive, yet always connected to the collective.
Flick’s Barcelona thrives on intensity, precision, and personality. Raphinha embodies all three. His intelligence in reading spaces, his timing in pressing, and his decision-making in key moments have transformed him from a dynamic winger into a complete forward and leader.
A Season to Remember
Raphinha’s 2025 was a celebration of excellence and self-awareness. He proved that success is not only about medals and votes, but about the impact left on a team’s identity. His recognition in Dubai simply confirmed what many already knew: that he has become one of the defining players of modern Barcelona, a figure whose influence extends far beyond the scoreboard.
Bottom line
Raphinha’s 2025 was a year of mastery and maturity. From his goals to his leadership, from his tactical growth to his humility, he showed why he belongs among the world’s elite. For Barcelona, he is more than a star. He is the standard of what modern excellence looks like in blue and garnet.
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