Barcelona's Raphinha 'in the lead for Ballon d'Or' over Mo Salah, Harry Kane and Robert Lewandowski - Owen Hargreaves

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Barcelona star Raphinha has been branded a "revelation" after a superb season that puts him "in the lead for the Ballon d'Or", according to TNT Sports expert Owen Hargreaves. The Brazilian has been in flying form for the Spanish giants this season and added two more goals to his tally in a stunning display against Benfica to secure his side's place in the Champions League quarter-finals.

'They are all deserving' - Salah, Lewandowski, Raphinha, Kane all in discussion for Ballon d'Or

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Barcelona star Raphinha is "in the lead for the Ballon d’Or" but faces stiff competition from Mo Salah and Harry Kane, according to Owen Hargreaves and Steve McManaman.

The Brazilian winger's two goals against Benfica in Barca's 3-1 win see him sit atop the UEFA Champions League scoring charts following his side’s last 16 second leg tie.

Raphinha has found the net 11 times in Europe, while he has racked up 27 goals and 18 assists across all competitions for the La Liga leaders.

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He moves ahead of Borussia Dortmund striker Serhou Guirassy by one, while England captain Kane and Barca marksman Robert Lewandowski both have nine.

"You can argue that with his numbers this season, [Raphinha's] in contention for the Ballon d'Or," Hargreaves said on TNT Sports.

"His finishing has been out of this world; he’s captain of the club and he's been an absolute revelation. I think currently you would say he might be in the lead for the Ballon d'Or."

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Liverpool talisman Salah has also been widely tipped for the coveted individual prize after providing 32 goals and 22 assists in all competitions for the runaway Premier League leaders this season.

Hargreaves and McManaman both agreed that the Ballon d’Or voting could come down to which player is on the winning side come the end of the Champions League campaign.

"Salah and Raphinha have similar numbers in terms of goals and assists, which is quite remarkable," Hargreaves said.

"You have to win the big trophies. If you win the big ones, then you’ve got a chance. I think right now it's probably Salah, but Raphina is very close."

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McManaman said: "He needs to be discussed. We talk about Mo Salah and rightly so, but you have to put this gentleman [Raphinha] in the conversation.

"Likewise, Lewandowski and Harry Kane. It will all probably depend on who lifts the Champions League, because they are all deserving at this moment in time.

"Harry Kane is outscoring everyone in the Bundesliga, Lewandowski is the same in La Liga, and they are scoring goals in the Champions League, so they all certainly deserve a mention.

"If Kane wins the Champions League and the Bundesliga and keeps scoring goals in the same fashion as now, he will deserve it as well. But whoever wins the Champions League will certainly be the favourite, if it’s one of those teams."

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Following Barcelona's 3-1 win against the Portuguese side, the pair sang the winger's praises once again.

"Raphina is in the form of his life," Hargreaves said.

McManaman added: "Everything he finishes just flies in the net. He opens his body up, on his favoured left foot, just shifts it slightly and then just smashes it low past the keeper."

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Liverpool, like Barcelona did before crushing Benfica, hold a slender 1-0 advantage heading into a home second leg in the Champions League.

Salah’s side welcome Paris Saint-Germain to Anfield on Tuesday after having goalkeeper Alisson Becker to thank for keeping a miraculous clean sheet in the French capital.

Kane’s Bayern Munich appear to be in a more comfortable position as they travel to Bayer Leverkusen with a 3-0 lead on Tuesday.

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