Neymar has publicly criticized the 2025 Ballon d'Or results, calling Barcelona winger Raphinha's fifth-place finish "a huge joke". The Brazilian star took to social media to express his frustration after the Ballon d'Or ceremony held on Monday, September 22.

Ousmane Dembele of Paris Saint-Germain (PSG) won the 2025 Ballon d'Or, with Lamine Yamal of Barcelona finishing in second place. Raphinha, despite having what many considered a standout season with Barcelona, finished fifth in the rankings. Mohamed Salah and Vitinha placed fourth and third respectively.

Neymar posted on Instagram, "Raphinha in 5th is too much of a joke". Raphinha played a crucial role in Barcelona's successful season, helping them secure the La Liga title and the Copa del Rey. He recorded 56 goal contributions in 57 appearances for Barcelona. Despite Raphinha's stellar performance, Neymar felt his compatriot was vastly underrated in the Ballon d'Or rankings.

Raphinha's fifth-place finish marks his first appearance on the Ballon d'Or shortlist. He featured in 36 La Liga matches, scoring 18 goals and providing nine assists. In the UEFA Champions League, he scored 11 goals and registered 4 assists, helping Barcelona reach the semi-finals. With his contract running until 2029, he is set to remain a central figure in Barcelona's attack.

The top 10 in the 2025 Ballon d'Or rankings were: 1. Ousmane Dembélé (PSG / France) 2. Lamine Yamal (FC Barcelone / Espagne) 3. Vitinha (PSG / Portugal) 4. Mohamed Salah (Liverpool / Égypte) 5. Raphinha (FC Barcelone / Brésil) 6. Achraf Hakimi (PSG / Maroc) 7. Kylian Mbappé (Real Madrid / France) 8. Cole Palmer (Chelsea / Angleterre) 9. Gianluigi Donnarumma (PSG, Manchester City / Italie) 10. Nuno Mendes (PSG / Portugal)

Neymar's best Ballon d'Or finishes were in 2015 and 2017, when he ranked third. He received nine nominations for the award, with the last nomination in 2021.