Gavi tips Barcelona teammate who isn't Raphinha to win Ballon d'Or | OneFootball

Barcelona star Gavi has hailed fellow midfielder Pedri as the deserving winner of the 2025 Ballon d'Or, rather than his much-vaunted teammate Raphinha.

The Brazilian forward has been in record-breaking form this season, racking up a combined 44 goals and assists across all competitions. Hansi Flick admitted that Raphinha "has a shot" at lifting the Ballon d'Or, while Brazil coach Dorival Junior rated him as a top contender.

Pedri can't come near Raphinha's tally of goal contributions - despite operating as an attacking midfielder in a 4-2-3-1 for much of this term - but his intangible influence over the team stretches far beyond cold hard numbers.

"Nobody deserves the Ballon d'Or more than Pedri, everyone knows what kind of a player he is," Gavi gushed after Barcelona strolled into the Champions League quarter-finals with a win over Benfica on Tuesday. Tellingly, Raphinha scored a brace but Pedri was crowned player of the match.

Pedri has been in brilliant form for Barcelona this season / Aitor Alcalde/GettyImages

"Pedri is top," Gavi continued. "Everyone knows what kind of player he is, and I'm very happy for him because he couldn't show it last year due to injuries. I can say that right now, Pedri is the best midfielder in the world."

Availability has not always been a quality for the Spain international in recent years. Pedri's 39 starts across all competitions this season is more than he amassed in any of the previous three campaigns - all of which have been hampered by injury. Despite Flick's more aggressive approach off the ball this term, the 22-year-old has only missed one game all season, and that was through illness.

If anything, the boyhood Barcelona fan has been full of praise for the manager's new fitness regime. "I feel liberated under Flick," he gushed. "Also physically you can see that I am much better to be able to do different things."

Pedri has only once been nominated for the Ballon d'Or in the past, finishing 24th in 2021 - the same year he lifted the Kopa Trophy as the best player under the age of 21.

The Barcelona star will surely return to the shortlist for this year's award. If the club continue their charge across three competitions - La Liga's leaders are into the Champions League quarter-finals and the Copa del Rey semis - Pedri and Raphinha could be vying with each other for Ballon d'Or glory.