Every football player has faced ups and downs at some point during their career, and not all of them have managed to rise like a phoenix from the ashes and get back on track. When talking about those born winners who never give up, one name cannot be neglected – Raphinha.From almost leaving Barcelona in the last June Transfer Window, from being psychologically at the bottom, and from being pronounced a flop, the Brazilian has become arguably one of the three best players in the world – alongside Mohamed Salah and Ousmane Dembele – while eyeing the treble with the Catalans and the greatest individual accolade in football – Ballon d’Or.The forward is currently fighting in the World Cup qualifiers with the national team. Last night, Brazil beat Colombia at home 2-1, and Raphinha opened the scoring from the spot after only six minutes, scoring his 11th goal with the Selecao.Raphinha for Brazil & Barcelona this season:🏟️ 47 Games (46 starts)⚽️ 31 Goals🅰️ 19 Assists🟰 50 G/A⏰ A goal or assist every 78 minutesTHE BEST PLAYER IN THE WORLD! 🔥 pic.twitter.com/4an44rh9KS— Ginga Bonito 🇧🇷 (@GingaBonitoHub) March 21, 2025 In a wide-ranging interview with Brazilian Globo Esporte, the 28-year-old touched on various interesting topics, but the national team had to be the first one. The triumph over Los Cafeteros launched Brazil to the second spot on the table, but the race is far from over. In five days, Dorival Junior’s squad will be in for the greatest challenge – World Champions Argentina await Selecao in Buenos Aires.”Obviously, we want to deliver great work, but we are at a stage where we need to deliver results. I think that is the most important thing. We are at a stage where it doesn’t matter if we deliver a great game and lose. Football is about results and it doesn’t matter how you play,” started Raphinha.##EDITORS_CHOICE##Interestingly, he is one of the rare Selecao players who has never played in his homeland.”It’s normal when you leave Brazil young and haven’t played for any team. You don’t have a full season and you end up not having the connection not only with the Brazilian fans. When you play in the Brasileirão, your club’s own fans and others see your work. It’s a natural process. I had a goal at the beginning, which was to make a career in Europe. I have the goal of playing professionally in Brazil and that will happen later or not, but I have it in mind. When I had the opportunity to go to Europe, I didn’t think twice. It was what I wanted. I knew I would have to win over not only them (Europeans), but also the Brazilian people. And the way I’ve been working and giving my all, people are starting to recognize. It’s the same with everyone. Working hard, showing that you’re there because of the shirt you wear, people are starting to recognize it,” the man who noted 27 goals and 20 assists so far this season stated.Ronaldinho’s friend who wears his bootsHowever, only seven months ago, things didn’t seem too bright. Moreover, Raphinha was considering leaving the Blaugrana. Yet, Hansi Flick changed everything.”Things weren’t working out. I had a season that wasn’t up to par and I saw people asking me to leave, that I wasn’t good enough for the club, and every day there was news that you were leaving. I ended up considering it. After the Copa América, Hansi called me and told me to show up for training before making any decisions, that he wanted to talk and was counting on me. That was an important factor in the decision to stay. When I talked to my wife, I told her that if he was a fair guy and saw the players’ performance in training, I would give him a week to like me as a player and that he wouldn’t regret it. I think it worked,” he revealed.🇧🇷🗣️ Raphinha: “I seriously considered leaving Barcelona last summer. Then Flick asked me to come to training before making any decisions.””I spoke to my wife and told her: If this man is fair and sees the effort I put in training, I’ll make him love me in a week and he won’t… pic.twitter.com/77QOMcRLae— Tekkers Foot (@tekkersfoot) March 21, 2025 The Brazilian admitted that that tough period was very hard to cope with, especially psychologically. That’s why he specifically highlighted the importance of mental health.”The mental part is even more important than just taking care of the body. If the mind is not well, the body will not respond the way it should. In the middle of last season, after my injury, I intensified my mental work with a psychologist and all that. It was something that helped me a lot and made me understand my place. Not only in football, but in life, as a man, as a father, as a husband. I think it is something much more important than just taking care of your body,” stated Raphinha.Barca’s thing: World-class striker, fiery Brazilian, and La Masia childBrazil’s greatest attacking power is the offensive trio of Vinicius Jr, Rodrygo, and Raphinha. Given that the former two are Real Madrid players and thus Barca’s greatest rivals, it’s an intriguing coincidence. Still, the Catalans’ forward highly appreciates them.”We have a very good team of athletes and being able to share the field with them is very satisfying. After all, we want to share the field with good players, we want to play with the best so we can give our best. These are players who have the ability to change positions and this can sometimes end up bothering our opponents. We have this facility. Sharing the field with them in my favor is much better than against me,” he said.Vini Jr, Raphinha, and Rodrygo entering the pitch ahead of Brazil’s 2024 Copa America match against Costa Rica (©Kevork Djansezian/Getty Images)Finally, Raphinha was asked to comment on his chances of winning the Ballon d’Or since he’s considered a serious candidate. Yet, for him, the focus is elsewhere.”I try not to focus on that. I try to do what I did when I started the season with focus and goals. I try to maintain that focus, that goal… Obviously, I have my personal goals, I try to achieve them and, to be quite honest, the Ballon d’Or was not a personal goal. Those goals are goals, assists, winning titles with Barcelona, with the national team. When things are going well at the club and with the national team, it is natural for the individual to stand out. The fact that I am named as one of the favorites for the Ballon d’Or is already a victory after everything I have been through in my career. Just being there is already a victory,” Raphinha concluded.2026 WORLD CUP QUALIFIERS – SOUTH AMERICARound 13FridayParaguay – Chile 1-0 (0-0)/Alderete 60/Brazil – Colombia 2-1 (1-1)/Raphinha 6 (p), Vinicius 90+9 – Diaz 41/Peru – Bolivia 4-1 (2-0)/Polo 37, Guerrero 45, Flores 82 – Miquelito 58 (p)/Saturday00:00: (1.45) Ecuador (4.20) Venezuela (8.00)02:30: (2.75) Uruguay (2.95) Argentina (2.85)***odds are subject to change***
