Barça is flying this season, and one of the reasons for their great form is the figure of Raphinha. At 28 years old, he has taken a step forward that practically no one expected and has become a true star, being the leader of Flick's project. In 41 matches, he has scored 27 goals and provided 19 assists, totaling 46 goal contributions.
Raphinha's great form hasn't gone unnoticed, to the point that he is gaining many supporters in the race for the Ballon d'Or. The latest to speak was the former footballer Thierry Henry, who didn't hold back. "I think he has all the chances to win the next Ballon d'Or. For me, he deserves it now. He's up there. Raphinha is ahead," he pointed out.
In this regard, Thierry Henry continued: "He has scored 11 goals in the Champions League. Mo Salah is a great candidate, Kane is a candidate, Dembélé depends... If you perform well in the Champions League and also win your league, you'll obviously have a chance."
Raphinha Climbs Positions for the Ballon d'Or
Precisely, one of the great footballers Thierry Henry names who could compete with Raphinha for the Ballon d'Or is Salah. The Egyptian forward knows that his chances might have been blown away in recent hours, following Liverpool's elimination from the Champions League. No one expected the first-place team in the regular phase to fall at the first hurdle, but that's how it happened.
With Salah out, Raphinha's chances keep growing, especially if Barça continues with their good form. Thierry Henry is clear: right now, the big favorite for the Ballon d'Or is the Brazilian. He is completing the best season of his career, although everything will depend on how Barcelona performs in Europe and in Spain.
In the case of winning the Champions League and being able to take the League or even the Cup, there would be no doubt: the best positioned for the Ballon d'Or would be Raphinha.
The Comparison Between Barça and Madrid Is Odious
The numbers clearly favor the Barcelona players. Lewandowski: 34 goals and 3 assists, Raphinha 27 goals and 19 assists, and Lamine Yamal 12 goals and 17 assists. Real Madrid's response is Vinícius 19 goals and 11 assists, Mbappé 28 goals and 5 assists, and Rodrygo 14 goals and 7 assists.
Barça has benefited from the performance of their three forwards. The trio has scored 58% of their team's 125 goals, because in Flick's Barcelona, everyone scores... except Ansu Fati and Christensen. The challenge is to surpass the MSN formed by Messi, Suárez, and Neymar, who scored 131 goals in the 2015-16 season.