If Raphinha was just a contender for the Ballon d’Or ahead of this week, the Barcelona star is now surely the favourite as the Leeds United icon starred against Benfica on Tuesday night.
Having scored the only goal of the game in the first leg against Benfica earlier this year, Raphinha was tasked with guiding Barcelona into the quarter-finals of the Champions League at the Nou Camp.
He did, but with aplomb. The 31-time Brazil international scored two goals and laid on an assist for Lamine Yamal to score in between Barcelona’s three goals. Raphinha is on fire, shining for Barcelona.
Just three years after his Leeds exit, the Brazilian is in the form of his life after two indifferent first seasons at the Nou Camp. Already this season, he has scored 27 goals in 46 games, laying on a huge 19 assists.
Raphinha shares aspirations which will benefit Leeds financially
The Leeds icon is dragging Barcelona towards silverware. Top of La Liga with a game in hand and now, one of the favourites to go and lift the Champions League come the end of the current campaign.
If that is the case and Raphinha goes on to win the Champions League, Leeds will benefit. According to reports, there is a clause in Raphinha’s deal – winning the Champions League sees Leeds receive £10m.
Now, Raphinha has discusses his hopes of winning the trophy: “Winning the Ballon d’Or? My goal is for Barça to win as many titles as possible this season and to improve every day. I don’t play to win individual awards, I play to defend a badge and our colors.”
Thierry Henry gave his verdict on Raphinha’s Ballon d’Or chances
There are plenty of contenders. Ousmane Dembele is having the season of his life with PSG under Luis Enrique, while Harry Kane looks set to win his first silverware with Bayern Munich clear in Germany.
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Kylian Mbappe, Vinicius Junior, Mo Salah and plenty of usual names will be touted as possible winners. But Raphinha’s goals and assists is impossible to ignore and Thierry Henry thinks Raphinha is winning.
If he is to win the Ballon d’Or, Raphinha needs to win silverware and in turn, that will see Leeds receive bonuses from Barcelona. The Brazilian winning the biggest individual award out there, sees Leeds benefit.