Raphinha delivered the best season of his career, playing a key role in helping the Blaugranas win the Copa del Rey, Supercopa de España, and LaLiga, recording 34 goals and 25 assists in 57 matches.

Even though he didn’t take home the trophy, many considered Raphinha deserving of the award. The Brazilian had previously expressed that simply being among the nominees was already a victory.

“With everything I’ve experienced in my professional career, being at the gala is already a win for me. One of my biggest achievements. My goal is to be better than yesterday, better than last season. I’m going to give everything to be even better,“ Raphinha said in an interview with France Football.

Who was the last Brazilian to win the Ballon d’Or?

Since Raphinha lost in the voting, the last Brazilian to claim the Ballon d’Or was Kaká, who received the honor in 2007. At the time, Kaká, playing for AC Milan, was at the peak of his career, showcasing elegant and extraordinary soccer that captivated the world. His 2007 victory is particularly notable as he was the last player to win the award before the decade-long dominance of Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo.

The award capped off an incredible season with AC Milan, in which he was the standout figure in the Italian club’s Champions League triumph. He scored 10 goals in the tournament, including a hat-trick against Anderlecht in the group stage and a crucial brace in the semifinals against Manchester United. He finished as the competition’s top scorer, demonstrating his lethal attacking ability.

Kaká’s Ballon d’Or win solidified his status as one of the greatest players of his generation. It remains a testament to his elegance, game intelligence, and ability to deliver in the most critical moments. Despite injuries that later affected his career, his brilliance in 2007 left an indelible mark on soccer history.

The last Brazilian player to lift the Ballon d’Or was Kaka, who won it in 2007 after a stellar season with AC Milan. That year, Kaka triumphed over two future legends, Manchester United’s Cristiano Ronaldo and FC Barcelona’s Lionel Messi, marking a historic achievement for both the player and Brazil.

During the 2006-2007 campaign, Kaka scored 18 goals and provided 11 assists in 48 matches with AC Milan. His role as a playmaker was crucial in leading the Italian side to European glory. In the UEFA Champions League semifinals, he scored two goals in the first leg and one in the second against Ronaldo’s Manchester United, sealing a 5-3 aggregate victory.

In addition to the Ballon d’Or, an accolade awarded exclusively by France Football magazine at the time, Kaka’s performance earned recognition from other entities. He received the FIFA World Player award, World Soccer’s Player of the Year, and was named FIFPro’s World Best Player, solidifying his place as one of the era’s top players.

Kaka: The predecessor to the Messi and Ronaldo dynasty

Kaka’s 2007 Ballon d’Or victory marked the beginning of an era defined by two names: Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo. His win served as the prelude to a historic 15-year stretch in which Messi claimed eight Ballon d’Ors and Ronaldo six. Only Luka Modric in 2018 and Karim Benzema in 2022 managed to break the duo’s dominance.

Benzema backs up Vinicius

After learning he wouldn’t claim the award, Vinicius Jr., along with several Real Madrid teammates, chose not to attend the 2024 Ballon d’Or ceremony in Paris. The decision caught the attention of his former teammate Karim Benzema, who showed his support for the Brazilian winger.

In a display of camaraderie, Benzema shared a photo on his Instagram story of him and Vinicius in their Real Madrid jerseys, captioned “Trop fort,” meaning “Too strong” in French.

[Watch Kaka Legends vs Ronaldinho Legends live for FREE in the USA on Fubo]

It’s the perfect opportunity to witness your favorite stars lace up their boots once again and grace the pitch, reminiscent of their performances from decades ago when they mesmerized soccer fans with their immense talent.

Two Brazilian players, both world champions with their country in 2002, two timeless legends—Ronaldinho and Kaka—will serve as captains of their respective legendary teams in what is undoubtedly a duel no soccer fan should miss.

When will the Kaka Legends vs Ronaldinho Legends match be played?

The Kaka Legends vs Ronaldinho Legends in a 2024 international friendly match is scheduled for this Sunday, June 16, at 6:00 PM (ET).

Kaka Legends vs Ronaldinho Legends: Time by State in the USA

ET: 6:00 PM
CT: 5:00 PM
MT: 4:00 PM
PT: 3:00 PM

How to watch Kaka Legends vs Ronaldinho Legends in the USA

In the United States, the friendly game between Kaka Legends and Ronaldinho Legends can be seen through Fubo (free trial). Other options: Fanatiz USA, beIN SPORTS.

SportsKeeda have tasked the ChatGPT-like tool Google AI with the enormous job of evaluating all of the winners of the Ballon d’Or based on their performances, impacts, and accomplishments. Since every winner of the prestigious award made an unforgettable impression on the sport, ranking them is an inherently subjective endeavor.

These footballing giants have adorned the sport with their outstanding abilities, from Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo‘s continuous quest for dominance to the legendary feats of luminaries like Johan Cruyff and Marco van Basten.

Who are the top 5 Ballon d’Or winners according to Google AI?

To determine the order of the five best Ballon d’Or winners, Google AI was used. Its response included superstars like Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo, but iconic players like Ronaldinho, Kaka, Ronaldo Nazario, Zinedine Zidane, and many more were ignored.

“Here is my ranking of the top 5 Ballon d’Or winners in football history: Lionel Messi (7 awards), Cristiano Ronaldo (5 awards), Johan Cruyff (3 awards), Michel Platini (3 awards), Marco van Basten (3 awards).

“This ranking is based on a number of factors, including individual and team achievements, longevity, and impact on the game. Messi and Ronaldo are the two most dominant players of their generation, and they have both won the Ballon d’Or multiple times. Cruyff, Platini, and van Basten are all considered to be among the greatest players of all time, and they each won the Ballon d’Or three times.”

“It is important to note that this is just my opinion, and there are many other great players who could be included in this ranking. Ultimately, it is up to each individual to decide who they believe are the greatest Ballon d’Or winners in football history“, the tool concluded.

While the Ligue 1 club handed Barca $244 million, makingNeymar the most expensive signing in history, Paris Saint-Germain also made the winger the team’s face. He had a warm welcome in the French capital, received the No. 10 shirt while also getting a huge paycheck.

Even so, things haven’t gone exactly as expected. Neymar was struck by injuries, and most importantly, he couldn’t lead PSG to a coveted UEFA Champions League title. It’s been said that he considered going back to the Camp Nou in 2019, something that fellow Brazilian Kaka recently confirmed.

Kaka reveals Neymar wanted to go back to Barcelona

“We’re close friends. I spoke a lot with Neymar and of course he had a bad time at PSG the year he wanted to return to Barcelona,” Kaka told Bein Sports, via Diario As. However, the Brazilian legend claimed that’s part of the past now.

“Today he’s happy. He thinks about the long-term project at PSG. Year after year the team gets stronger, they’re building more cohesion to win something really important like the Champions League, and he’s happy in Paris and at PSG.”

It would make sense if Neymarreconsidered his future at the Parc des Princes by then. Though he was excited at the time of moving to France, he later realized that the league wasn’t as popular as LaLiga and that he couldn’t succeed in Europe on his own.

However, the outlook isdifferent now. Paris Saint-Germain may have yet to win the Champions League, but Neymar has Lionel Messi as a teammate again and things on the pitch are going much better.

There is one thing all these great stars have not won and that is a World Cup, of the players from all over the world that have played in MLS only 13can claim they are World Cup winners. 12 entered their MLS careers as World Cup winners, and now one can calim he was playing in MLS when he won the World Cup.

While the list boasts some incredible players, their MLS careers are mixed bags as many had fairly successful careers in the league and others… well not so much. Let’s review all of the World Cup winners who have played in MLS!

Branco – Brazil – MetroStars – 1997

The first World Cup winner to ever play in MLS was from the reigning champions at the time, Brazil (1994). Branco was a top left back, once, who came to MLS in 1997 to play for the ailing MetroStars. To say that Branco was a flop is an understatement. He played in only 11 games and scored 1 goal, he was sent off twice, once for spitting at his opponent. He chained smoked, was overweight, and was let go quickly as the 97 season ended.

Lothar Matthäus – Germany – MetroStars – 2000

The definition of everything MLS does not want to be. Matthäus MLS journey began shortly after the 1999 Champions League Final against Manchester United, you can say that the 38-year-old, 1990 World Cup winner, was one of the best players on the field until he was subbed out. When he did arriveinNew York to be presented to the media he told local media, while he was posing for picturesinTimes Square, he was a German basketball player signed by the Knicks. It seemed to him that playing in MLS was a joke, it looked that way, he played 16 games, when he was “injured” he was photographed in St. Tropez getting a tan. Incredibly Matthäus speaks wonders about the emerging MLS as a pundit in Germany. Go figure…

Youri Djorkaeff – France- MetroStars – 2005

1998 World Cup winner Youri Djorkaeff came to the MetroStars during what can be considered the dark times of MLS. The league was stagnant, and the pre-Beckham era saw Djorkaeff play in front of nearly empty stadiums, still the elegance, the skill, and the vision wasall there. Djorkaeff played 2 seasons with the MetroStars as they turned into the Red Bulls, and his positive experience led the way to the signing of his friend Thierry Henry.

Denilson – Brazil – F.C. Dallas – 2007

Denilson won the World Cup with Brazil in 2002 after being the highest transferred player ever when he moved from Sao Paulo to Real Betis in 1998. By 2007 he was an unwanted commodity having bounced around France and Saudi Arabia, still on the national team he showed incredible talent. He came to F.C. Dallas with high hopes but unfortunately, he did not play well at all. He scored 1 goal in 8 games. He is considered one of the biggest DP flops and worst signings in MLS history.

Thierry Henry – France – New York Red Bulls – 2010

One the best players the league ever signed, the 1998 World Cup winner was gold for MLS and the Red Bulls. 51 goals in 122 games, but above all else, an example, a leader, the definition of professionalism. Henry gave MLS instant credibility, to prove MLS was no retirement league, he went back on loan to his beloved Arsenal in 2012 and scored 1 goal in 4 matches.

Alessandro Nesta – Italy – Montreal Impact – 2012

The 2006 World Cup winner, Nesta came to MLS at the tail end of his career, but he was a mark of class and professionalism. Only playing 31 games his experience helped the Impact get into the playoffs in 2013. He retired after the 2013 season and lobbied to become the clubs head coach; the job went to Frank Klopas.

Kleberson – Brazil – Philadelphia Union – 2013

Kleberson, the journeyman Brazilian World Cup winner (2002) arrived to the Union in 2013 after lukewarm achievements in his club career. In Philadelphia, he scored 1 goal in 11 outings. Since 2017 he has been working with the Philadelphia Union Academy.

Kaká – Brazil – Orlando City – 2014

Orlando City wanted to enter MLS with a splash, and they did just that when they signed 2002 World Cup Winner, Kaká in 2014. Kaká was pure class on and off the field, on the field, he scored 24 goals in 75 matches for an Orlando City team that was not at his level. Off the field, he is one the league’s biggest spokesman and showed the rest of the league that no matter how famous a player, always make time for fans. A class act.

Andrea Pirlo – Italy – New York City FC – 2015

Like Roberto Donadoni in 1996 for the MetroStars, the 2006 World Cup Winner, Pirlo at NYCFC was nothing but class. Yes, he had lost a step, but he didn’t need to run, he was elegance on the ball, perfect passing, and leadership. In three seasons Pirlo played 60 games for the club, but only scored 1 goal. His injuries forced him to retire, but NYCFC fans have fond memories of the Italian midfielder.

David Villa – Spain – New York City FC – 2015

The Spanish 2010 World Cup winning forward was amazing for NYFC in his four seasons, Villa scored 77 goals in 117 games. He was the clubs first idol and while at the club scored his 400th career goal. Villa is considered by many one of the top 20 best MLS players of all- time.

Bastian Schweinsteiger – Germany – Chicago Fire – 2017

Bastian Schweinsteiger came to the Chicago Fire to provide his experience and be an example, and the 2014 World Cup winner did just that. He played 85 games and scored 8 goals, he was an All-Star and while the Fire only made it to the playoffs once in his three years, he was a rock for the team.

Blaise Matuidi – France – Inter Miami – 2020

Inter Miami need help, who better than a World Cup winner, Blaise Matuidi arrived from Juventus and while he has only just arrived one hopes he can bring his wealth of experience to a new team who is in desperate need for wins. Matuidi started in France’s 4–2 victory against Croatia in the final of the 2018 World Cup.

Thiago Almada – Atlanta United – 2022

Thiago Almada was able to get on the Argentina World Cup squad due to a few injuries that occurred right before the tournament kicked off. The Atlanta United midfielder and record most expensive player ever signed by MLS did play against Poland in Argentina’s final group stage game. Thiago Almada is the first MLS World Cup winner while playing in Major League Soccer.