Why Raphinha Missed the Ballon d'Or Shortlist Despite Leading LaLiga in Goals

Twelve goals in seven matches. That's the start to the season Raphinha has put together with Barcelona, a mark that makes him the leading scorer in the domestic league. And yet his name is nowhere to be found among the 30 Ballon d'Or nominees. How does that add up?

The Brazilian's absence from the final list sparked a heated debate among pundits and fans alike, since on paper there was plenty of reason to include him. He won LaLiga twice, won the Spanish Super Cup twice, and scored 13 goals in the Champions League during the 2025-26 season. Numbers that, in almost any other context, would be enough to land among the favorites.

The issue lies elsewhere: injuries. The 2026 Ballon d'Or evaluates performance between August 3, 2025, and July 19, 2026, the date the World Cup wrapped up. During that window, Raphinha missed a staggering 26 matches, spread across five separate ailments.

A Calendar Derailed by Thigh Trouble

The worst injury struck early in the season: a thigh problem that sidelined him for 13 matches, from September 26 through November 22. After that came a knock to the same area (1 match), a strain (3 matches), and two more thigh-related setbacks (7 and 2 matches). In total, 125 days on the sidelines.

Despite all that, Raphinha's level never dropped when he was available. What likely did cost him votes for the award was his showing at the 2026 World Cup with Brazil. He played the full 90 minutes in the 1-1 draw against Morocco, but came off after 40 minutes against Haiti. The thigh injury kept him out of the matches against Scotland and Japan, and he was left on the bench for the Round of 16 exit against Norway.

Here's a curious wrinkle: medical tests after the current FIFA window ruled out any injury for Raphinha. A minor issue did keep him out of the friendly in which Brazil beat Australia, but nothing serious. That's good news for Hansi Flick, since the forward will be available for LaLiga's Saturday, October 10 matchup against Getafe.

With barely a month of the 2026-27 season in the books, Raphinha is already shaping up as Barcelona's top scorer and the leader tasked with driving the club toward a third straight LaLiga title. That leaves the door open for him to be in the Ballon d'Or conversation next year. As always, injuries will have the final say.