“Injustice!” – Raphinha’s Wife Natalia Rodrigues Blasts FIFA Over The Best Men’s XI Snub

 Natalia Rodrigues, wife of FC Barcelona star Raphinha, has publicly condemned FIFA’s decision to exclude her husband from The Best FIFA Men’s XI for 2025, branding the omission a clear “injustice” in a series of now-deleted Instagram stories.

The Brazilian winger, who delivered an outstanding 2024/25 season with Barcelona—contributing 62 goals and assists across all competitions while helping the club secure La Liga, Copa del Rey, and Spanish Super Cup titles—was notably absent from the final XI announced during The Best FIFA Football Awards ceremony in Doha on December 16, 2025.

In her passionate posts, Rodrigues highlighted Raphinha’s impressive statistics, writing: “62 G/A… But he didn’t deserve to be included in the XI.” She followed with direct criticisms: “They don’t even try to hide it anymore!”, “INJUSTICE!”, and sarcastically, “Is Raphinha a Basketball player?!” The stories quickly went viral before being removed.

The Best FIFA Men’s XI featured a strong PSG contingent, including Ousmane Dembélé (who won The Best Men’s Player award), alongside Barcelona’s Lamine Yamal and Pedri, Chelsea’s Cole Palmer, Real Madrid’s Jude Bellingham, and others. Raphinha, despite finishing fifth in the 2025 Ballon d’Or and earning La Liga Player of the Season honors, placed fifth among attackers in the voting.

Rodrigues’ outburst echoes widespread sentiment among Barcelona fans and analysts, who view the snub as the latest in a series of overlooked recognitions for the 28-year-old forward. Raphinha himself has previously responded to similar exclusions by sharing his achievements on social media.

The couple, who share a long-standing relationship and a young son, are known for their strong family bond and mutual support in the spotlight of professional football.