Barcelona’s Gavi snubs Yamal and Raphinha when naming shock player he believes should win 2025 Ballon d’Or

Barcelona midfielder Gavi has named who he thinks should win the 2025 Ballon d’Or – and it’s not Raphinha or Lamine Yamal.

Barcelona secured a convincing 3-1 victory (4-1 on aggregate) over Benfica in the Champions League round of 16 at the Lluís Companys Olympic Stadium on Tuesday night. While Gavi made a brief appearance, the spotlight was firmly on Lamine Yamal and Raphinha.

The Brazilian winger delivered a stellar performance, scoring twice and assisting Yamal’s stunning first-half goal. His contributions have been outstanding this season, with 46 goal involvements in 41 appearances.

Speaking on TNT Sports, former Bayern Munich and Manchester United midfielder Owen Hargreaves praised Raphinha’s form, even suggesting he could be in the Ballon d’Or conversation.

“You can argue that with his numbers this season, [Raphinha] is in contention for the Ballon d’Or,” Hargreaves said. “His finishing has been outstanding; he’s captain of the club and has been a revelation. Right now, you could say he might be leading the race for it.”

Hargreaves also compared Raphinha’s stats to Mohamed Salah’s, acknowledging the similarity in their goal and assist tallies.

“You have to win the big trophies to be in the Ballon d’Or race. Right now, it’s probably Salah leading, but Raphinha is very close,” he added.

With Barcelona advancing to the quarter-finals, Raphinha’s impact continues to grow, and if he maintains this form, he could emerge as a serious contender for football’s top individual prize.

With no major international tournament this summer, the 2025 Ballon d’Or race will be determined solely by club performances, unlike last year when Rodri edged out Vinícius Jr. after helping Spain win Euro 2024 and guiding Manchester City to Premier League glory.

However, Barcelona midfielder Gavi believes there is one player who deserves the award above all others—his teammate Pedri.

“Nobody deserves the Ballon d’Or more than Pedri. Everyone knows what kind of player he is,” Gavi told reporters after Barcelona’s 3-1 victory over Benfica.

Pedri, now 22, previously won the Kopa Trophy and Golden Boy award in 2021 but has struggled with injuries in recent seasons. Despite this, his talent remains unquestioned.

The Spanish international has long expressed his ambition to win the Ballon d’Or, acknowledging the challenge that comes with it.

“I hope I have the opportunity to be [a Ballon d’Or winner]. It’s a very complicated prize,” Pedri told SPORT in 2022. “You must be the best in the world, and I still have a lot to learn and improve before that day comes.”

With Barcelona advancing to the Champions League quarter-finals, Pedri has a platform to prove himself on the biggest stage. If he can stay fit and deliver in crucial moments, he could emerge as a strong contender for football’s most prestigious individual award.