Sevilla boss Luis Garcia calls Raphinha's Ballon d'Or snub 'a joke'
Sevilla manager Luis Garcia hit out at the decision to exclude Barcelona star Raphinha from the Ballon d'Or list after the Brazilian scored a hat-trick against his side.
Photo: Wikimedia Commons / CC BY 4.0 / Author: Unknown author Unknown author
After the match at the Ramon Sanchez-Pizjuan, Sevilla manager Luis Garcia expressed genuine bewilderment over the total omission of Raphinha from the Ballon d'Or shortlist. Despite watching his team suffer a defeat, the Spanish tactician was effusive in his praise for the Brazilian, who dismantled his defensive line with a clinical hat-trick.
«It's a joke that he's not even nominated for the Ballon d'Or. He is a match winner, that's why I don't believe in these prizes. He does everything.» Luis Garcia
Garcia argued that excluding the Barcelona captain, alongside teammate Pedri, only reinforced his long-standing skepticism regarding the credibility of modern individual awards. He noted that while he is focused on his own squad, the caliber of performance displayed by the Barcelona skipper is undeniable.
The snub has triggered widespread debate among fans and pundits. As the domestic season pauses for the international break, Raphinha will join the Brazil national team for friendlies against Australia and India. The Catalan giants are hopeful their captain returns fit to maintain their strong form in La Liga.