Club comes before Ballon d’Or — Raphinha

Barcelona's Brazilian forward #11 Raphinha celebrates scoring his team's first goal during the UEFA Champions League first round day 1 football match between FC Barcelona and Feyenoord at Camp Nou stadium in Barcelona on September 9, 2026. (Photo by Lluis GENE / AFP)

Barcelona captain Raphinha has insisted that the club will always come before individual awards.

“I will do my best for the club, not for individual awards. I have always put the interests of the club I play for first,” the Brazilian said in a post by Fabrizio Romano on X on Friday.

The comments came as Raphinha discussed his future after signing a contract extension with Barcelona until 2030. He expressed pride in the new deal and said he hopes to end his career at the club if his fitness allows.

Raphinha has been in outstanding form this season, scoring 15 goals in his first 10 La Liga matches.

Despite the strong personal numbers and growing Ballon d’Or talk, he made clear that team success remains his priority.

He also rejected any suggestion of rivalry with teammate Lamine Yamal.

“I want him to have the best statistics and achieve everything with the club. I’d be happy if he won 10 Ballon d’Ors,” Raphinha added.

The forward said his ambition is to win every possible trophy with Barcelona, with the Champions League a particular target.

Gilbert Ekugbe is a journalist at Punch Newspapers with over a decade of experience reporting on business and economic affairs. He covers markets, corporate developments, finance, and Nigeria’s broader economic landscape. His reporting is informed by extensive newsroom experience and a strong commitment to accuracy and responsible journalism, helping readers understand complex business issues.

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