Sevilla boss Luis Garcia Plaza questions Raphinha’s omission from Ballon d’Or top 30

Sevilla manager Luis Garcia Plaza says he cannot understand why Barcelona forward Raphinha was not included among the 30 players nominated for the Ballon d’Or.

“There are some things in football that I cannot understand. How can Raphinha be left out of the 30-man Ballon d’Or list?” Garcia Plaza told Spanish newspaper Mundo Deportivo. “Raphinha not being nominated is something I do not understand.”

Raphinha is currently leading the La Liga scoring charts with 12 goals, five clear of Real Madrid striker Kylian Mbappe and Barcelona team-mate Lamine Yamal.

His latest three-goal performance came in Barcelona’s win over Sevilla. It was his second consecutive hat-trick after he scored three times against Racing de Santander in the sixth round of La Liga.

Raphinha’s goals against Sevilla came with his head, right foot and left foot. He became the first Barcelona player to complete that feat since Luis Suarez scored a hat-trick against Cordoba in 2015.

His 12 goals in La Liga during the 2026-2027 season also made him the third player in the 21st century to reach that total after his team’s opening seven matches of a campaign.

Lionel Messi scored 10 goals for Barcelona after seven matches in 2011-2012 and 11 in 2017-2018. Cristiano Ronaldo reached 13 for Real Madrid in 2014-2015.

Barcelona have taken 21 points from a possible 21 and sit top of La Liga after seven victories. Sevilla have 13 points and are fifth, with Barcelona and Atletico Madrid among the teams they have faced.

Garcia Plaza also praised his own side’s performances and the support from the club’s fans.

“I think the fans can see that my team has a clear style of play and gives everything,” he said. “We know the supporters will be there and that they are proud of the players.”

He added: “We have played seven matches and overcome Atletico Madrid and Barcelona. Our attacking effectiveness is different, and I am happy with the team’s performances.”

Lamine Yamal, meanwhile, has recorded 51 assists in 159 appearances for Barcelona in all competitions. At 19 years and 68 days, he became the youngest player in La Liga to reach 50 assists since at least the 2013-2014 season.

The previous record belonged to Vinicius Junior, who registered his 50th assist for Real Madrid in May 2023, aged 22 years and 298 days.