​Sevilla manager baffled by Barcelona superstar’s Ballon d’Or snub: ‘I don’t understand’Barcelona superstar Raphinha has emerged as one of the biggest surprise packages this season, playing in a new role as a striker.If these first eight games of the season are any evidence to go by, there is a case to be made for Raphinha being the best player in the world at the moment.The Brazilian has taken to the new role like a fish to water, and his goalscoring exploits have made everyone sit up and take notice.His absence from the Ballon d’Or top 30 has attracted a strong reaction from Sevilla manager Luis Garcia Plaza, who cannot understand how the Barcelona star failed to make the shortlist.“Something that I don’t understand”As quoted by Fabrizio Romano, Garcia Plaza made his feelings clear after seeing Raphinha up close in Barça’s 3-1 win over Sevilla.“There are some things I can’t understand in football. How is Raphinha out of the Ballon d’Or top 30?” the Sevilla coach said.Raphinha has looked unstoppable at the start of the season. (Photo by Judit Cartiel/Getty Images)“Raphinha not being nominated is something that I don’t understand,” he added.It is significant praise coming from an opposition coach rather than somebody connected to Barcelona.The 29-year-old has scored back-to-back hat-tricks in La Liga, and his performance at the Ramon Sanchez-Pizjuan last night was one that would have made legendary No. 9s proud.Raphinha is letting the football do the talkingWhile Raphinha cannot influence whether he gets nominated for the Ballon d’Or top 30, he is letting his football do the talking.Despite having an injury-ridden season last year, the Brazilian was still influential for Hansi Flick’s team.Add to that his start to the current season, and it is very difficult to believe that Raphinha did not get a nomination at the very least.The former Leeds United man is not just about the goals he scores or the assists he provides to his team-mates.Raphinha is fundamental to Flick’s high-pressing system. (Photo by Alex Caparros/Getty Images)His intensity without the ball is fundamental to Flick’s pressing system, while his movement gives Barcelona a direct threat even when opponents restrict space.He has enjoyed an unprecedented start to the current season, and if he can sustain these numbers through the course of it, it will be a generational run.There is little value in dwelling endlessly on an individual award shortlist that has already been decided.Most Barcelona fans will echo Plaza’s sentiment but, more importantly for them, they will hope he can keep up these performances not just for this season but beyond.