In a remarkable turn of events, Leeds United’s beloved Raphinha clinched a prestigious fifth-place finish at the Ballon d’Or ceremony held in Paris on Monday, solidifying his status as one of the top five players globally.
Despite departing for Barcelona in 2022, Raphinha remains a cherished figure among Leeds supporters, who flooded social media with messages of admiration for the former United player post the awards’ announcement.
While Raphinha’s valiant achievement is commendable, it falls short of the highest placements ever achieved by players with ties to Leeds. Gordon Strachan and John Charles, illustrious figures in the history of the club, have previously outshone Raphinha in Ballon d’Or rankings.
Recognized as one of Leeds’ all-time best signings, Raphinha’s stellar displays at Barcelona reaffirm his exceptional talent. At 28, he shares the third spot with Billy Bremner (a 1973 fifth-place finish) in terms of the highest positions attained in Ballon d’Or voting.
Before joining Leeds in 1989, Gordon Strachan secured a fourth-place spot in the 1983 Ballon d’Or following his standout season with Aberdeen. Nevertheless, John Charles, departing Leeds in 1959 for Juventus, achieved the club’s best-ever third-place finish in 1959.
Many believe that Raphinha, with his standout performances last season, should have been crowned this year’s Ballon d’Or winner. His 38 goals and 23 assists across 64 games in various competitions, along with his La Liga Player of the Season accolade, were instrumental in guiding Barcelona to a historic domestic treble.
While Ousmane Dembele emerged triumphant, earning Leeds fans’ favor for his remarks on the Whites, the desire lingered amongst many to witness a direct Leeds associate lifting the prestigious award.
