Cafu nominates Rafinha for the 2025 Ballon d'Or
Brazilian football legend Marcos Evangelista de Moraes, known as Cafu, has nominated Barcelona striker Rafinha for the 2025 Ballon d'Or, praising his impressive performances this season with both club and country. Rafinha is having an exceptional season with Barcelona, scoring 30 goals and providing 23 assists in 48 competitive matches. He has also excelled in the Champions League, scoring 12 goals, making him one of the leading candidates for the most important individual award in world football, awarded annually by France Football magazine. Speaking to Spanish radio station Cadena Ser, Cafu confirmed that "Rafinha deserves the Ballon d'Or," noting that his numbers and achievements this season make him a serious contender for the title, especially as he seeks to lead Barcelona to La Liga, Copa del Rey, and Champions League titles. Despite strong competition from Egyptian star Mohamed Salah, who is also enjoying a stellar season with Liverpool, scoring 32 goals and providing 23 assists, Cafu believes that Rafinha's achievements with Barcelona make him the most deserving of the award, especially given his continued brilliance and decisive performances in big matches. The absence of prominent names such as Neymar Jr., and the lack of similar brilliance from fellow Brazilians such as Vinicius Jr., boosts Rafinha's chances of becoming the first Brazilian to win the Ballon d'Or in years. As the season draws to a close, expectations are growing for Rafinha, especially if he leads Barcelona to a historic treble.
