Hansi Flick believes Barcelona star 'could have a shot' at 2025 Ballon d'Or | OneFootball

Barcelona coach Hansi Flick believes that Raphinha "could have a shot" at winning this year's Ballon d'Or.

Mohamed Salah, Vinicius Junior and Kylian Mbappe are among the early favourites to scoop world football's most prestigious individual prize in 2025, but Raphinha has emerged as a surprise but valid contender due to his phenomenal form for Barcelona.

The Brazilian winger, who was even captaining the team earlier this season when Ronald Araujo and Frenkie de Jong were still sidelined, has scored 25 goals and racked up 18 assists (43 overall direct goal involvements) in 40 appearances across all competitions.

And yet, Barcelona would have replaced Raphinha in a heartbeat last summer if their delicate finances had allowed them to sign Euro 2024 breakout star Nico Williams.

"Of course, if he performs well this season, he could have a shot," Flick said this week.

"He always contributes immensely, and if you look at the goals he has scored, it showcases his determination. You can see how focused he is. I'm pleased with his level of play."

Raphinha has surpassed expectations / FILIPE AMORIM/GettyImages

Among Raphinha's biggest performances this season have been a goal and assist in a 4-0 demolition of Real Madrid in October's Clasico, two more goals and an assist over Barca's fiercest rivals in the Supercopa de Espana final, and a Champions League hat-trick against Bayern Munich.

The last Barcelona player to win the Ballon d'Or was Lionel Messi in 2019, although the Blaugrana icon has been awarded it twice more since, during spells at Paris Saint-Germain and Inter Miami.

Messi received the Ballon d'Or six times as a Barcelona player between 2009 and 2019, with Ronaldinho (2005), Rivaldo (1999), Hristo Stoichkov (1994), Johan Cruyff (1973, 1974) and Luis Suarez (1961) the others to win it while representing the club.