Raphinha faces significant disappointment at FIFA The Best

FIFA revealed the 2025 Best XI lineup with unexpected decisions, as Barcelona’s Raphinha was left out despite an outstanding season and earning La Liga’s Best Player title.

The FIFA The Best 2025 award ceremony concluded with many surprises, with the most notable being the absence of Barcelona’s shining star Raphinha from the Best XI despite his excellent season.

According to FIFA’s announcement in Doha (Qatar), the 2025 Best XI blends seasoned veterans with emerging young talents. In defense, Virgil van Dijk leads alongside Achraf Hakimi, Nuno Mendes, and PSG newcomer William Pacho. Gianluigi Donnarumma was honored as goalkeeper after a stellar year with PSG and Manchester City.

The midfield features Jude Bellingham (Real Madrid), Pedri (Barcelona), Cole Palmer (Chelsea), and Vitinha (PSG). The attack combines Ousmane Dembele, FIFA’s Best Male Player, with prodigy Lamine Yamal, who had a breakout season at just 18 years old.

Although included in the final shortlist of 11, Raphinha did not receive enough votes to make the official Best XI. This sparked controversy since the Brazilian star had an almost perfect 2024/25 season with Barcelona. Under coach Hansi Flick, he scored 18 goals and provided 10 assists in La Liga, playing a key role in securing the Catalan club’s title defense. In the Champions League, Raphinha was even more impressive with 13 goals and 9 assists, matching Cristiano Ronaldo’s record for goal involvements in a single season.

His brilliant performance earned Raphinha the La Liga Best Player award, confirming his status as one of the world’s top right-wingers. Additionally, he shone for Brazil with goals in the 2024 Copa America and 2026 World Cup qualifiers, playing a vital role in the "Selecao" campaign.

FIFA stated that the Best XI voting results are based on a 50-50 split between expert panel votes and global fan votes. Despite missing out on the final team, Raphinha is regarded as one of the most complete and consistent players worldwide today, with his next goals being to help Barcelona win the Champions League and lead Brazil back to the top at the 2026 World Cup.