The announcement of the 2025 FIFPRO Men’s World 11 has stirred controversy, particularly in Barcelona, where fans were left baffled by the omission of Raphinha.
The Brazilian winger, who enjoyed the most productive season of his career in 2024/25, was nowhere to be seen in the star-studded lineup.
Raphinha’s exclusion is difficult to understand, considering his extraordinary contributions to Barça’s treble-winning campaign.
The 28-year-old ended the season with 34 goals and 22 assists. Despite finishing fifth in the Ballon d’Or voting and being instrumental in taking Barcelona to the Champions League semi-finals, his name was left off the final list.
Raphinha’s outburst
Raphinha
Raphinha shared series of stories. (Source: Instagram/@Raphinha)
Clearly disappointed, Raphinha took to social media to express his feelings, not through words, but through a telling set of posts.
Early this morning, he shared 17 Instagram stories, each highlighting his achievements from last season: team trophies, personal milestones, and his numerous goal involvements.
Many of these posts included three laughing emojis, a subtle yet pointed gesture towards the perceived unfairness of the selection.
The official FIFPRO Men’s World 11 featured a midfield quartet of Pedri, Vitinha, Cole Palmer, and Jude Bellingham, while the attack was formed by Kylian Mbappe, Lamine Yamal, and Ousmane Dembele.
Raphinha
Raphinha is clearly unhappy with his exclusion. (Source: Instagram/@Raphinha)
The inclusion of Palmer and Bellingham ahead of Raphinha has not gone down well among Barça supporters, who see the decision as overlooking merit for popularity.
Adding to the debate, Bellingham’s campaign was disrupted by recurring shoulder issues, and many feel that Raphinha’s consistency, influence, and winning mentality deserved recognition.
For Raphinha, this snub should serve as another source of motivation. His quiet defiance on social media says it all, and for Barcelona, it is just another reminder that sometimes even the brightest seasons can go unnoticed.