Raphinha names his top 5 Ballon d'Or contenders

The European leagues are reaching the business end, with fewer than five matches remaining in the top five. The Champions League finalists have been decided, with Inter edging past Barcelona 7-6 across two legs and Paris Saint-Germain securing a comprehensive 3-1 victory over two legs to set up a final clash on 31st May. Amidst all this, the conversation around the best player of the season and the Ballon d’Or has begun to gather steam. When asked about potential winners of the prestigious individual trophy, Raphinha, the Brazilian and Barcelona superstar, shared his top five list. 

According to him, Lamine Yamal, Mohamed Salah, and Kylian Mbappe remain the frontrunners. At the same time, he included Pedri and Vinicius Jr. in the mix. The former Leeds United player did not hesitate to mention a name from their arch-rivals. Despite having lower numbers compared to the previous season, Vinicius Jr. remains a contender based on the overall impact of his season, Raphinha said.

Lamine, Salah, Mbappé too. Pedri, for me, one of the best in the world. Vinícius, for me, is always a candidate, even if his numbers are slightly below last year

Raphinha remained humble in the interview by not mentioning his name but for the season that Barcelona continues to have across the leagues, he also remains a top contender alongside Paris St Germain’s Ousmane Dembele, who is having the season of his life. 

Whom did Toni Kroos mention as the best midfielder in his position? 

Former Real Madrid and German player Toni Kroos lauded Pedri, hailing him as the best player in the world in his position. The midfield maestro remarked that Pedri is the kind of player the club will truly miss when he is not on the pitch. He also highlighted the youngster’s special quality of providing solutions beyond just goals and assists. He said:

They may decide the results of matches, but to do that, Pedri is currently the best player in the world in his position. He's a player you will miss when he's not playing, whoever you are playing against. He doesn't just score goals or provide assists, he offers solutions