By Michael Nsikan Richard – December 17th, 2025
Barcelona winger Raphinha was controversially excluded from both the FIFA The Best Men’s 11 2025 and the FIFPRO World 11 2025, announced on December 16, 2025, at a ceremony in Doha, Qatar.
The Brazilian international’s absence has sparked widespread outrage among fans, pundits, and his family, given his exceptional performances throughout the 2024-25 season.
Raphinha’s Outstanding 2024-25 Season Statistics
Raphinha concluded the 2024-25 campaign with extraordinary numbers: 38 goals and 24 assists across 64 appearances for Barcelona and Brazil, totaling 61 goal contributions.
In La Liga alone, he scored 18 goals and provided 10 assists, earning him the La Liga Player of the Season award.
His Champions League performance was particularly remarkable, where he became both the tournament’s top scorer with 13 goals and top assist provider with 9 assists.
His accomplishments included scoring 5 goals against Real Madrid across multiple Clasicos, a hat-trick against Bayern Munich, and playing a pivotal role in Barcelona’s domestic treble of La Liga, Copa del Rey, and the Spanish Super Cup.
Reactions & Controversy
Player’s Response: ESPN reports that Raphinha himself reacted to the FIFPRO snub by posting 17 Instagram stories highlighting his achievements, including compilations of his 34 goals for Barcelona, trophies won, MVP awards, and memorable performances, including hat-tricks. Many of these posts included laughing emojis, suggesting both frustration and disbelief at the omission.
Fan and Media Reaction: Social media erupted with outrage from both Brazilian and international fans, with many calling the decision a disgrace and robbery.
One viral post listed all the awards Raphinha was denied, questioning how long he would continue to be overlooked.
Context and Comparisons
Other notable omissions included Mohamed Salah, who won the Premier League Golden Boot and Player of the Season awards. Raphinha’s 61 goal contributions represented a level of output rarely seen in Spanish football since the Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo era.
This was not Raphinha’s first experience with controversial award outcomes, as he also finished 5th in the 2025 Ballon d’Or voting despite his standout season. In interviews, Raphinha acknowledged that finishing 5th in the Ballon d’Or was an honor but admitted his expectations were higher given his performances, as reported by Goal.com.
The Brazilian’s omission from both prestigious teams has become one of the most discussed topics in football, with many viewing it as evidence of bias in award voting processes.
