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Cristiano Ronaldo’s Champions League record in jeopardy as Raphinha overtakes Lionel Messi
Raphinha’s astonishing Barcelona season edged closer towards a record-breaking conclusion against Inter Milan. The Brazilian winger was once again the standard-bearer in the Champions League this season, playing an integral role in a pulsating 3-3 semi-final first leg draw. Raphinha’s assist for Torres has put him on the brink of two recordsGetty He is on the brink of a truly historic Champions League campaignGetty Assisting Ferran Torres as Barcelona made it 2-2 from 2-0 down, Raphinha grabbed his 20th goal contribution in the competition this season. Cristiano Ronaldo has long held the record of 21 from the 2013/14 season with Real Madrid, but he now has competition for the top spot after Raphinha bettered Lionel Messi’s most productive season in European competition. Raphinha also moved to just one behind Luis Figo for most assists in a campaign, with the Portuguese winger recording nine all the way back in 1999/00, also for Barca. In fact, Raphinha could’ve even had another goal in his column, as he again helped Barca equalise to make it 3-3 in the 65th minute. The former Leeds man thrashed in an astonishing long-range effort that beat Inter goalkeeper Yann Sommer before cannoning off his back and into the net. Due to the keeper’s decisive touch, Raphinha gets neither a goal nor an assist despite the incredible effort. Yet it does nothing to take away from an astonishing campaign for the 28-year-old who has a Europe-leading 52 goal contributions in all competitions. Signed from Leeds United in 2022 for £55million, the winger’s Barca future often looked in doubt, but he’s been reborn under Hansi Flick. Hitting heights never expected from him before, Raphinha has also captained Barcelona for the majority of games this season with first choice options Marc Andre ter Stegen, Ronald Araujo and Frenkie de Jong injured. Many bookmakers now have him as the favourite to win the 2025 Ballon d’Or, ahead of Paris Saint-Germain’s Ousmane Dembele and Liverpool’s Mohamed Salah. Raphinha is approaching history He’s put himself among truly elite company Not only has the former Rennes man been successful in Europe, but he helped Barca to their first title of the season last time out. The Catalans won the Copa del Rey against rivals Real Madrid 3-2 in the final in Sevilla. They also hold a four-point LaLiga lead over Real with five games left to play. Of course it should also be pointed out that this year’s Champions League has two extra games. Moving to a league phase for 2024/25, Raphinha has already featured 13 times this campaign, with Ronaldo playing 11 games in his 2013/14 record year. Ronaldo also won his second of five Champions League titles that year, with Raphinha still facing a tough trip to San Siro before a potential final. Yet the biggest story is undoubtedly how Flick has transformed Raphinha, who previously looked like he’d be leaving the club. Ahead of the Copa final he admitted a mega money offer from Saudi Arabia in the January transfer window, and said it’s one he would have accepted last summer when things weren’t going so well. “If I had been made this offer last year, I think I would have gone,” he said. “Whoever says he wouldn’t go is lying, because it’s impossible to see figures like those and not think how much it can change you.”
Raphinha’s astonishing Barcelona season edged closer towards a record-breaking conclusion against Inter Milan.
The Brazilian winger was once again the standard-bearer in the Champions League this season, playing an integral role in a pulsating 3-3 semi-final first leg draw.
Assisting Ferran Torres as Barcelona made it 2-2 from 2-0 down, Raphinha grabbed his 20th goal contribution in the competition this season.
Cristiano Ronaldo has long held the record of 21 from the 2013/14 season with Real Madrid, but he now has competition for the top spot after Raphinha bettered Lionel Messi’s most productive season in European competition.
Raphinha also moved to just one behind Luis Figo for most assists in a campaign, with the Portuguese winger recording nine all the way back in 1999/00, also for Barca.
In fact, Raphinha could’ve even had another goal in his column, as he again helped Barca equalise to make it 3-3 in the 65th minute.
The former Leeds man thrashed in an astonishing long-range effort that beat Inter goalkeeper Yann Sommer before cannoning off his back and into the net.
Due to the keeper’s decisive touch, Raphinha gets neither a goal nor an assist despite the incredible effort.
Yet it does nothing to take away from an astonishing campaign for the 28-year-old who has a Europe-leading 52 goal contributions in all competitions.
Signed from Leeds United in 2022 for £55million, the winger’s Barca future often looked in doubt, but he’s been reborn under Hansi Flick.
Hitting heights never expected from him before, Raphinha has also captained Barcelona for the majority of games this season with first choice options Marc Andre ter Stegen, Ronald Araujo and Frenkie de Jong injured.
Many bookmakers now have him as the favourite to win the 2025 Ballon d’Or, ahead of Paris Saint-Germain’s Ousmane Dembele and Liverpool’s Mohamed Salah.
Not only has the former Rennes man been successful in Europe, but he helped Barca to their first title of the season last time out.
The Catalans won the Copa del Rey against rivals Real Madrid 3-2 in the final in Sevilla.
They also hold a four-point LaLiga lead over Real with five games left to play.
Of course it should also be pointed out that this year’s Champions League has two extra games.
Moving to a league phase for 2024/25, Raphinha has already featured 13 times this campaign, with Ronaldo playing 11 games in his 2013/14 record year.
Ronaldo also won his second of five Champions League titles that year, with Raphinha still facing a tough trip to San Siro before a potential final.
Yet the biggest story is undoubtedly how Flick has transformed Raphinha, who previously looked like he’d be leaving the club.
Ahead of the Copa final he admitted a mega money offer from Saudi Arabia in the January transfer window, and said it’s one he would have accepted last summer when things weren’t going so well.
“If I had been made this offer last year, I think I would have gone,” he said.
“Whoever says he wouldn’t go is lying, because it’s impossible to see figures like those and not think how much it can change you.”
