In a historic night at the Estadi Olimpic Lluis Companys, Raphinha etched his name into Barcelona folklore by breaking a Champions League record previously held by Lionel Messi. The Brazilian forward showcased extraordinary talent and tenacity during the riveting clash against Inter Milan, where he registered an assist that catapulted him ahead of the Argentine superstar.
Raphinha, who has been in scintillating form this season, entered the match with an impressive tally of 30 goals and 21 assists across 51 games. His contributions in the Champions League alone spanned 12 goals and seven assists, matching Messi’s previous season total of 19 goal involvements in a single campaign. However, in the first half of the match, Raphinha provided a key assist for Ferran Torres’ equaliser, moving ahead of Messi in the record books.
Now, only Cristiano Ronaldo can claim more goal contributions in a single Champions League season, with a staggering 21 contributions achieved during the 2013-14 campaign as Real Madrid commenced their remarkable reign in Europe’s elite competition.
Since his arrival from Leeds United in 2022, Raphinha has made significant strides in his career, appearing in 137 matches and scoring 50 goals to date. This campaign is proving to be his most fruitful to date, bolstering his standing as a strong contender for this year’s Ballon d’Or.
Under the stewardship of Hansi Flick, Barcelona looks poised for a treble this season, having recently secured the Copa del Rey. At the heart of their success lies an electrifying attacking trio, featuring Raphinha, rising star Lamine Yamal, and seasoned striker Robert Lewandowski, who have been pivotal in the Catalan giants’ pursuit of glory on multiple fronts.
The match against Inter was nothing short of a rollercoaster, with both teams displaying attacking prowess and resilience. Inter struck first, racing to a 2-0 lead with goals from Marcus Thuram and Denzel Dumfries. However, Barcelona responded emphatically, with Yamal netting a sensational goal stamped as a potential Puskas Award contender. Torres then equalised just before half-time, setting the stage for a thrilling second half.
Inter regained the lead via Dumfries’ header, but the drama continued as Raphinha’s determination saw him score an incredible equaliser with a strike that crashed off the back of Inter goalkeeper Yann Sommer, resulting in an electrifying 3-3 deadlock.