The new position unlocked a different sort of quality from the Brazilian. To be sure, he had always been rather versatile – even slotting in as a wing back under Jesse Marsch during his Leeds tenure.
But his work rate for Barcelona covered for the aging legs of Robert Lewandowski, and allowed Yamal to stay higher up the pitch on the right. In effect, Raphinha was playing in the wrong position and doing the legwork of three players.
That didn’t really matter, though. He has always been that kind of footballer. Watch Raphinha, and your eyes float around the screen. This is a player who is never static, always running with the ball and desperate to win it back when dispossessed.
It has been a Day 1 quality, he admitted, “I was always a very active player on the field, both in defence and in attack. So, it is something very personal,” Raphinha said.
And a bit more responsibility – as well as perhaps a clearer remit rather than the plug-and-play role he was handed under Xavi – helped Raphinha develop into a world-class footballer.
By the end of the 2024-25 season, he had notched 59 goal involvements in all competitions. Barcelona won La Liga, Copa Del Rey, and came within seconds of reaching a Champions League final. Those numbers were only good enough for fifth in Ballon d’Or voting. Yamal finished second. Ousmane Dembele won it.
Raphinha claimed shortly after that the award should have been his.
“In my opinion, if it were based on the season as a whole, I would deserve it. I would place Lamine (in second) and Pedri (in third) in the final ranking, with Dembele in fourth,” he said.
This is a new version of life. Raphinha was the work-rate machine. Now, he’s a bit more expressive and a global star. The kid who was at Ronaldinho’s party is now doing ads for one of the biggest beer brands in the world.
“Well, ultimately, it was a proposal that came my way thanks to the campaign. I think it’s a great way to get together with new friends and family to watch a soccer match at home. There’s nothing better than the company of Modelo: a spectacular beer,” he said.
