Rivaldo names Rafinha and Yamal as favourites for Ballon d’Or.

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Barcelona forwards Rafinha and Lamine Yamal are favourites to win this year’s Ballon d’Or, according to a football legend.

Brazilian legend Rivaldo has named Barcelona forwards Lamine Yamal and Rafinha as the front-runners to win the 2025 Ballon d’Or, with Liverpool’s Mohamed Salah and Real Madrid’s Vinicius Junior among the main contenders.

Yamal has eight goals and 11 assists in 23 games in all competitions this season, while Rafinha has 19 goals and nine assists in 27 games. Rivaldo sees him สมัคร ufabet กับเรา รับโบนัสทันที as the favourite to win the Ballon d’Or, but it also depends on Barcelona’s success this season. 

‘I don’t see anyone above Lamine and Rafinha in the Ballon d’Or race at the moment,’ Rivaldo said. ‘Maybe if we look outside Spain, Salah is a strong contender for this season and Vinicius will always be there. It will all depend on Barcelona and winning trophies together, but both have had great seasons.’

‘Yamaal has a lot of confidence in Barcelona and plays with a maturity beyond his years’

‘Rafinha is still a strong candidate for the Ballon d’Or, especially given his recent form, with goals, passes and great confidence on the pitch.’

‘He plays with creativity and determination, which makes him a strong contender for this award.’

Asked about Ronald Araujo’s decision to stay at Barcelona amid previous links with Juventus, Rivaldo replied: ‘Keeping top players is always important and Araujo’s presence will be very beneficial for Barcelona. The season is long, with a lot of games, so having a strong squad is essential. ‘

‘The injuries and recovery needs of some players make having quality players on the bench important to maintain competitiveness.’

Asked about arch-rivals Real Madrid, who have lost to Barcelona twice this season, conceding a combined nine goals, Rivaldo insisted Los Blancos cannot be ruled out of the race for success.

‘Conceding nine goals in two games is something that fans cannot forgive. Be it the players or the coach, but Real Madrid are still in the league and the Champions League to chase trophies.’

‘If they had played badly in every competition. It would have been different, but the team has improved after a poor start to the season and will continue to fight for the title.’

‘For Barcelona, ​​this is a great start. But if their form drops in La Liga or elsewhere, there will be criticism.’

‘Training a team at this level means being prepared for high-pressure moments and constant criticism.’