Introduction
The argument for the best player in the world is always one that is up for debate (with the exception of 2009 through 2023). Since Lionel Messi's departure from Europe, one would have expected that the rising stars of the footballing world at the time such as Kylian Mbappé, Vinicius Junior, and Erling Haaland would be the ones battling for the title of the world's greatest. Yet, despite these predetermined assumptions held by many fans, a new contender has exploded onto the scene in the 24/25 season. Our very own Raphinha.
Prior Seasons
Prior to the 24/25 season, it is fair to say that while Raphinha did have his fair share of good performances, he was no where near being the best player in the world. In the 22/23 season, he was vital in securing Barça's LaLiga title, with multiple game-winning goals. Yet, despite his vital role in Barça's victorious league campaign, his inconsistency kept him out of the conversation for being one of Europe's elite wingers. With a respectable 22 G/A in 50 games (transfermarkt), it is by no means a bad return, but nothing extraordinary. Moving on, in the 23/24 season, he managed 23 G/A in 37 games (transfermarkt). This return was definitely better, and big performances in the UEFA Champions League against PSG definitely helped him win favor amongst the Barça crowd.
Redemption
While Raphinha's 23/24 season was quite good despite Barça's poor form, fans of the club largely failed to recognize Raphinha for his solid performances throughout the season. In the summer of 2024, many fans were calling for Raphinha to be sent to Saudi Arabia amidst rumors of a bid of 100 million euros for the 27 year-old (dailysports). Furthermore, after Nico Williams's exceptional performance in Euro 2024, the infamous images of Nico Williams's name on the number 11 kit for FC Barcelona were posted online. After Barça failed to secure Nico Williams in the summer transfer window of 2024, Raphinha knew he had a chance to prove himself to the supporters and disprove the fans who disrespected him. As Raphinha himself said, "I saw a picture in social media with someone printing a Barca shirt with Nico Williams and my number at the back. I left a comment in that post because I think it was disrespectful" (GOAL).
The 24/25 Season
Raphinha started the season quite well, with his first 3 LaLiga games earning him an average Sofascore match rating of 7.93 (Sofascore). However, it was the next game which would explode his season into what it has become. In a 7-0 thrashing of Real Valladolid at the Montijuïc by FC Barcelona, Raphinha provided 4 goal contributions in a single game, including a hattrick and an assist. This earned him a well-deserved 10/10 match rating on Sofascore (Sofascore). After that game, he gained momentum, and there was no stopping him. Since that game on the 31st of August, Raphinha has managed a further 21 goals and 13 assists in 31 games, bringing his tally to 24 goals and 15 assists for the season (transfermarkt). Moreover, big performances against Real Madrid (in two separate games) and in the UEFA Champions League against sides such as Borussia Dortmund and Bayern Munich have made him a serious case for being of the world's best players, if not the world's best player.
Contenders
While players such as Kylian Mbappé and Vinicius Junior have not enjoyed the greatest of seasons, there is one player who contends Raphinha for the title of the best player in the world. That player is Mohamed Salah. This season, he has managed a staggering 26 goals and 18 assists in 34 games (transfermarkt), pushing Liverpool to pole position in both the UEFA Champions League League Phase and the Premier League. While there is no doubt that these stats are on par with Raphinha's, there is one category in which Raphinha trumps Mohamed Salah this season: Big Games. While Salah has been exceptional in many important games for Liverpool this season, Raphinha's performances in big games such as a hattrick in Barça's demolition of Bayern Munich at home and goals in two consecutive humiliations of Real Madrid have been absolutely extraordinary. On the other hand, Salah has had great performances in big games; however, he has not managed to leave his mark on Liverpool's biggest games of the season in the UEFA Champions League (against AC Milan and Real Madrid). To add, a large number of his goals also come from penalties, and while all goals certainly count, quality certainly matters.
Conclusion
While a valid argument can be made for both Raphinha and Salah in the conversation for the best player in the world, I personally believe that Raphinha takes the title. This is not to disregard Salah's importance to this Liverpool side (or perhaps it is), but it is quite evident that Raphinha provides more value to Barça than Salah does to Liverpool as he has the ability to perform at his best on the biggest of stages and constantly drop deep to play as a No.10, allowing Barça to find space in games where they are struggling to find the net.
In the end, its not just about stats — it's about impact. And this season, no one has had a larger impact than Raphinha.
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