Soccer-Barcelona's Raphinha named LaLiga Player of the Season
FILE PHOTO: Soccer Football - LaLiga - FC Barcelona v Real Madrid - Estadi Olimpic Lluis Companys, Barcelona, Spain - May 11, 2025 FC Barcelona's Raphinha celebrates scoring their fourth goal REUTERS/Albert Gea/File Photo
(Reuters) -Barcelona winger Raphinha was named LaLiga Player of the Season on Friday, after the Brazilian played a major role in his side winning the domestic treble, with club teammate Lamine Yamal named Best Under-23 player.
Raphinha contributed 34 goals and 25 assists in 57 club games across all competitions, with Barca winning the league title, Copa del Rey and the Spanish Super Cup.
The 28-year-old signed for Barcelona in 2022 from Leeds United and recently signed a contract extension keeping him at the Spanish club until 2028.
Raphinha scored a late goal to put Barcelona ahead in the Champions League semi-final second leg against Inter Milan, only for the Italians to level in stoppage time and net an extra-time winner. That was Raphinha's 13th goal in 14 games of this season's competition.
Yamal, still only 17, confirmed his status as one of the world's top talents after last season's breakthrough campaign, with the winger netting nine league goals along with five in the Champions League.
(Reporting by Trevor StynesEditing by Christian Radnedge)
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
The Sun
an hour ago
- The Sun
Donnarumma Slams Italy's 3-0 Loss to Norway in WC Qualifier
ITALY goalkeeper Gianluigi Donnarumma offered no excuses for his side's poor showing in their 3-0 defeat at Norway in the World Cup qualifiers on Friday, saying their form was not acceptable and the fans deserve better. Playing the first match of their qualifying campaign, Italy were stunned after a ruthless first-half performance by Norway, who put three past the visitors thanks to Alexander Sorloth, Antonio Nusa and Erling Haaland. Italy sit fourth in Group I, while Norway lead the group with nine points from three matches. Estonia, Moldova and Israel are also in Group I. 'I have no explanation at the moment. You just have to go inside and realise the performance tonight. Our fans don't deserve this,' Donnarumma told Italian TV channel Rai Sport. 'We all have to come out of these games together, we need to examine our conscience.' The four-times World Cup winners have not qualified for the global showpiece event since 2014. Italy manager Luciano Spalletti said his team were going through a difficult patch and that he would speak with the Italian Football Federation about the situation. 'From us, it has to come from us first of all. We are Italy and these matches are not acceptable... We must be more united than before,' said Donnarumma, who won the Champions League, Ligue 1, French Cup and French Super Cup titles with Paris St Germain in the recently concluded season. Italy next host fifth-placed Moldova on Monday.
The Sun
2 hours ago
- The Sun
Donnarumma says Italy's form unacceptable after drubbing by Norway
ITALY goalkeeper Gianluigi Donnarumma offered no excuses for his side's poor showing in their 3-0 defeat at Norway in the World Cup qualifiers on Friday, saying their form was not acceptable and the fans deserve better. Playing the first match of their qualifying campaign, Italy were stunned after a ruthless first-half performance by Norway, who put three past the visitors thanks to Alexander Sorloth, Antonio Nusa and Erling Haaland. Italy sit fourth in Group I, while Norway lead the group with nine points from three matches. Estonia, Moldova and Israel are also in Group I. 'I have no explanation at the moment. You just have to go inside and realise the performance tonight. Our fans don't deserve this,' Donnarumma told Italian TV channel Rai Sport. 'We all have to come out of these games together, we need to examine our conscience.' The four-times World Cup winners have not qualified for the global showpiece event since 2014. Italy manager Luciano Spalletti said his team were going through a difficult patch and that he would speak with the Italian Football Federation about the situation. 'From us, it has to come from us first of all. We are Italy and these matches are not acceptable... We must be more united than before,' said Donnarumma, who won the Champions League, Ligue 1, French Cup and French Super Cup titles with Paris St Germain in the recently concluded season. Italy next host fifth-placed Moldova on Monday.
The Sun
2 hours ago
- The Sun
Australian Media Slam Spurs' 'Big Mistake' in Sacking Postecoglou
SYDNEY: Australian media on Saturday blasted Tottenham's decision to sack home hero Ange Postecoglou as a 'big mistake', saying he had consistently shown himself to be a winner. The Australian, one of the nation's most successful managerial exports, steered Spurs to their first European prize in 41 years and secured a place in next season's Champions League. But he also oversaw their worst domestic season since they were relegated from the top flight in 1976-77, which ultimately cost him his job. The Sydney Morning Herald branded chairman Daniel Levy's decision 'cold-hearted' and one the club 'will almost certainly live to regret, regardless of whether his replacement is a success or not'. 'There will now always be an unanswerable 'what if' about the possibilities that lay within a third season at Spurs for Postecoglou,' it said. 'And there appears to be no hope that whoever comes in next will get what he needs to satisfy Levy, who seems to be prioritising higher finishes on the Premier League table than the idea of actually winning things.' In a column for The Australian newspaper, former Socceroo and West Ham star Robbie Slater branded Postecoglou's firing 'a big mistake'. 'Levy has left himself in a really, really difficult position now. He's already not liked by the Spurs fans and now he's taking a massive gamble here,' he wrote. 'Ange had promised 'season three is always better than season two'. Good luck with that Spurs.' Former Australia and Celtic boss Postecoglou was the fifth manager sacked by Levy in the past six years. Australian national broadcaster ABC was more measured in its criticism, noting that 'in the cold light of day, Postecoglou was always going to be hard pressed to keep his job'. But it also questioned why Spurs would get rid of a man who delivered what he said he would -- winning a trophy in his second season in charge. 'He has shown himself to be a winner in every league he has had an extended run in, be it Scotland, Australia, Japan and now England,' it said. 'Sacking Postecoglou fits with Tottenham's recent reputation of throwing away promising situations and making life uncomfortable -- or even torturous -- for its supporters.'
