Raphinha opens up on Ballon d’Or “personal disappointment”

While fans and media have speculated about tension between the two, Raphinha says that couldn’t be further from the truth.

“That rivalry simply doesn’t exist,” he said. “What really exists between us is mutual respect and a shared drive to perform at our best. We push each other every day, and that helps the whole team. I see Lamine as family.”

A product of Vitória Guimarães, Raphinha has built an impressive European career and hopes to spend the rest of his career with the LaLiga side.

Still, he remains realistic. “Football is unpredictable, so I try to live in the present,” he added.