Just like Mohamed Salah changed his overall aura as a footballer when joined Liverpool in 2017, it seems a similar job Raphinha has done in the ongoing 2024-25 season at Barcelona.
The Brazil international joined Baca from Leeds United in the summer of 2022. In 45 apps in all competitions, the 28-year-old forward has scored 28 goals and provided 22 assists.
Not to forget that from 2020 to 22, he scored 17 goals and 12 assists in 67 outings in the Premier League for Leeds.
Even in La Liga, it took him two seasons to score 13 goals. But in the 2024-25 Spanish top-flight season, Raphinha has added 13 already in 28 matches.
In the first leg of the Champions League round of eight, Baca beat Borussia Dortmund 4-0 at home (Wednesday evening). The former Sporting CP and Rennes forward opened the scoresheet in the 25th minute.
He then saw striker Robert Lewandowski add an early second-half brace against his former club. Youngster Lamine Yamal also scored a goal in the end, making the scoreline 4-0. This has boosted FCB’s chances of reaching the semis.
They are also in the La Liga title race, going neck-to-neck with Real Madrid.
Having positive chances of reaching the semis has put Raphinha in a position to break a mega record.
With 12 goals and seven assists in 19 UCL apps this season, Raphinha’s goals involvement is 19. Before the knockout stage, teams now play two more games than in previous seasons. But still, having a chance to beat Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo’s record is something incredible.
In a UCL season, no player has scored more than 17 goals and overall 21 involvements (goal + assist).
In the 2013-14 UCL season, football legend Ronaldo made this record by adding 17 goals and four assists.
Barca reaching the European final can give the Brazil forward four more UCL games. So with 12 goals, he needs five to match CR7’s 17 tally and six to surpass. But the goals involvement record can be broken with ease as Raphinha, with 19, needs two goals to match Ronaldo’s 21 mark and three to go ahead.
The goal against the German side also helped him match the record of football legend Leo Messi, who scored 14 and assisted five times in the 2011-12 season (21 GIs) for FCB.
| Name | Time | Goal involvements | Goals | Assists |
| Cristiano Ronaldo | 2013-14 | 21 | 17 | 4 |
| Robert Lewandowski | 2019-20 | 20 | 15 | 5 |
| Cristiano Ronaldo | 2015-16 | 20 | 16 | 4 |
| Raphinha | 2024-25 | 19 | 12 | 7 |
| Lionel Messi | 2011-12 | 19 | 14 | 5 |
Source: Transfermarkt
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