🧨"Raphinha Ballon d'Or": Why Henry is Right! 1st EVER in CL 🤯

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·13 mars 2025

🧨"Raphinha Ballon d'Or": Why Henry is Right! 1st EVER in CL 🤯

This article was translated into English by Artificial Intelligence. You can read the original version in 🇮🇹 here.

Raphinha's season so far has been phenomenal: 11 goals in the Champions League, 13 in La Liga, 1 in the Copa del Rey, and 2 in the Super Cup.

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But today, we're not just thinking about the goals. Let's look at the assists recorded by Raphinha, which - along with the goals - put him in the running for the Ballon d'Or according to Thierry Henry.

Best assist average ever in the Champions League

With 5 assists this season, Raphinha has provided 12 in his Champions League career. Not an excessive number, but impressive when compared to the matches played: only 22.

This statistic makes him the player with the best assist-to-game ratio in the history of the Champions League, considering those players who have made at least 10 assists.

Raphinha: 12 assists - 22 games = 0.55
Neymar: 33 assists - 81 games = 0.41
Vinicius: 24 assists - 65 games = 0.37
De Bruyne: 29 assists - 79 games = 0.37
Tadic: 13 assists - 36 games = 0.36
Suarez: 26 assists - 73 games = 0.36
Di Maria: 41 assists - 116 games = 0.35
Ozil: 24 assists - 69 games = 0.35
Bale: 20 assists - 66 games = 0.30
Mahrez: 16 assists - 55 games = 0.29

Outside the TOP 10 are Messi (40 assists in 163 games) and Cristiano Ronaldo, who in absolute terms is the best assist-man of the competition: 43 in 183 games.

Raphinha-Ballon d'Or? For Henry, it's "Yes", Salah...

In the post-match of Barcelona-Benfica, Thierry Henry spoke out on the Ballon d'Or issue: "For me, Raphinha is ahead thanks to what he's doing in the Champions League. Salah is a great candidate, Kane another, and also Dembelé. Moreover, Raphinha has scored 11 goals and only one from a penalty."

Seeing Salah with the Ballon d'Or, however, seems complex: the exit from the Champions League and Liverpool's absence from the Club World Cup could decisively affect the voting, despite the Egyptian's incredible season in the Premier League.

Raphinha is also leading Barcelona with his character: a team that is competing for La Liga, the Champions League, has won the Super Cup, and is qualified for the Club World Cup. Certainly a great advantage for the Ballon d'Or.

Also fully in the running are Harry Kane, Mbappé, Lewandowski, and Dembelé: all decisive both in the league and in the Champions League. And all these players will be part of the Club World Cup.

Let's not forget the Inter players: if the club were to reach the end of the Champions League, Marcus Thuram and Lautaro could have their say in the ranking. Considering they will also have the chance to showcase themselves in the summer World Cup.

📸 David Ramos - 2025 Getty Images