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According to a report by Barca Universal on Tuesday October 27, 2026, Barcelona captain Raphinha has reportedly liked a TikTok video questioning the Ballon d’Or criteria following Harry Kane’s triumph at the 2026 awards ceremony.
According to reports, the Brazilian winger liked a video posted by content creator Dani Quintana, who compared Kane’s achievements with Raphinha’s performances during Barcelona’s successful 2024/25 campaign.
Kane won the 2026 Ballon d’Or after an outstanding season with Bayern Munich, recording 73 goals and eight assists in 65 appearances. The England international also won three domestic trophies and helped the German champions reach the Champions League semi-finals.
However, Raphinha’s achievements from the previous season have continued to generate debate over his fifth-place finish in the 2025 Ballon d’Or voting.
The Barcelona captain played a crucial role as Hansi Flick’s side won La Liga, the Copa del Rey and the Spanish Super Cup. He also registered 56 goal contributions and finished as both the leading scorer and assist provider in the Champions League.
Despite his impressive numbers and contribution to Barcelona’s domestic treble, Raphinha finished behind Ousmane Dembélé, who claimed the award after helping Paris Saint-Germain enjoy a successful campaign.
Quintana’s video reportedly questioned the consistency of the Ballon d’Or criteria, highlighting the similarities between Raphinha’s achievements and Kane’s award-winning season.
While Kane’s remarkable goal-scoring record provides a strong argument for his victory, Raphinha’s influence extended beyond scoring, with his creativity, pressing and attacking movement playing an important role in Barcelona’s success.
The Brazilian’s reported social media activity has therefore reignited the debate over whether he deserved a higher position in last year’s rankings.
However, Raphinha has not publicly issued a direct criticism of Kane or the Ballon d’Or organisers in the report. Liking the video does not necessarily mean he endorses every argument presented in it.
With Kane now recognised as the world’s best player for 2026, Raphinha will hope to produce another outstanding campaign with Barcelona and strengthen his own chances of winning the prestigious individual award in the future.