We can’t let goals and assists rule us…

 Raphinha has got 51 goals and assists combined in all competitions for Barcelona this season. Absolutely mind-blowing numbers for a player who admitted himself that he was close to leaving Barcelona in the summer. 

Raphinha has been one of the most electric forwards in Europe this season, there’s no doubt about it. He’s scored in countless crucial games at crucial moments - including match-winners in big Champions League fixtures and a flurry of goals against fierce rivals Real Madrid. 

But coincidentally, it was last night’s match against Madrid which made me think. I’ve seen quiet whispers turn into a concrete possibility - there is every chance that Raphinha could win the Ballon d’Or providing Barcelona win the Champions League. And this doesn’t sit right with me. 

Ballon d’Or should go to the best player in the world over the season who has led his team to relative success across the campaign through winning trophies - I think that’s how most people view the award nowadays - or at least what the award should represent. However, it would be disingenuous to suggest that Raphinha has been the best player in the world. Yes, his output has been ridiculous and I’m not taking anything away from that but I don’t know how many Barcelona games I’ve come away from this season thinking that Raphinha has been the best player on the pitch.

He’s shown this season to have that ability to barely be in a match and still walk away with two goal contributions when the final whistle blows. It’s a great ability to have because it demonstrates how he’s never really out of the game even when you think he’s put in a pretty poor display. Other players such as Cristiano Ronaldo, Mo Salah and even Bukayo Saka spring to my mind when I think of this trait. 

The thing is, if you don’t watch these games - you can let the statistics blind you. People see the score and see who got the goals and assists and the instant takeaway is that they must’ve been the main instigators in grabbing the victory. But, you can’t just let that guide you or else you won’t see the full story. Raphinha has been Barcelona’s best player across a handful of games this season - but for most of them, he hasn’t.

Pedri and Lamine Yamal have been Barcelona’s best players. If you watch a few of their games, it becomes clear that Barca are actually quite dependent on them. They are the backbone of the whole attack, dominating games across the whole 90 and providing the creative spark that makes it possible for Raphinha and co. to score so many bloody goals. 

But Raphinha is arguably the front-runner for the Ballon d’Or without even being his team's most important or best player. Why? Because of the goals and assists. And football shouldn’t be viewed like this. Ask any Barcelona fan who they think their best player is and you’ll hear Pedri, Yamal and potentially even Cubarsi more than you hear Raphinha. 

As I’ve said before, I’m not trying to discredit Raphinha. He deserves to be in with a shout of winning football’s most coveted individual trophy but I don’t think he deserves it any more than Yamal or Pedri. I’ve heard a few quiet shouts of Yamal potentially winning the award but they’re often laughed off for some strange reason - I think people fear he’s too young to already be winning it and so he’s not taken as seriously. Pedri on the other hand, I haven’t heard a peep. He’s been arguably the best player in the best team in Europe and yet I wouldn’t blame you for not knowing this due to the lack of coverage he’s getting this season. He’s performed at a level that makes him easily the best midfielder in the world and I don’t think it’s controversial to say. But you just don’t ever hear his name mentioned in these circles - compare it to Bellingham’s campaign last season where there was a very large push for him to win the award (particularly in the first half of the year) which led to him finishing a close third and it’s night and day.

So what was the difference between the two midfielders in these respective seasons? Well it’s obvious, the goals and assists. Big moments are what sticks in the casual fan’s mind. Bellingham scored copious amounts of late goals in big games and therefore was always imposing himself in the mind of football fans everywhere. He became synonymous with the greatness and success of Real Madrid across that season even though his performances dipped in the second half of the year.

Pedri typically doesn’t score big goals and doesn’t grab the headlines. But you could argue that what he does on the football pitch is just as, if not even more important than that. But it doesn’t show up on the statsheet.

The broader point about this is that we’re letting goals and assists just dictate how we view footballers. I don’t know when this became the norm but it shouldn’t be. Rodri winning the Ballon d’Or last season was refreshing to see but it should set a precedent. To be viewed as the best of the best, you need to play like the best of the best - every game. It shouldn’t be enough grabbing a goal or two even when you constantly aren’t playing well because if that’s all you’re seeing then you’re witnessing a false story.

If Raphinha wins the Ballon d’Or whilst Pedri and Lamine Yamal aren’t near the number 1 spot, I’m not going to sit there and cry about how ‘he didn’t deserve it’ because he has had an all-time statistical season. However, it will be a sad indictment of the current state of football discourse and an ominous sign of where the game might be going.

Reward the best players not the biggest contributors.