Raphinha emerges as star in Messi’s step

Raphinha stepped into rarefied air on Wednesday night, matching Lionel Messi’s highest direct goal contribution in a single Champions League campaign for Barcelona.

Raphinha on 19 goal run and doing so in precisely the same number of matches.

Though Messi remains active in the game, his exploits in a Barcelona shirt are often regarded as untouchable relics of a golden era.

However, under Hansi Flick, this Barcelona side are crafting a narrative of their own — one built on style and substance. And Raphinha, at least in this 2024/25 season, has become a standout figure.

While Robert Lewandowski remains the go-to finisher in the box, and Lamine Yamal is often the spark in build-up play, it is the Brazilian who has found an influential middle ground, elevating his numbers and impact across all fronts.

And nowhere is this more telling than in the Champions League — football’s truest stage of excellence. Against Borussia Dortmund in the first leg of the quarter-finals, Raphinha scored once — nicking a goal from teammate Pau Cubarsi — and provided two assists: first to Lewandowski for Barcelona’s second, then to Yamal in the closing stages following a near-flawless counter-attack.

His ability to influence both structured and open play has become a hallmark of his game, and within the final third, his presence is increasingly decisive. Things happen when the ball comes to — or leaves — his feet.

Following that display, Raphinha has now been directly involved in 19 of his team’s 35 goals in this season’s Champions League campaign — spanning group stage and knockouts — matching the club’s best-ever tally in a single edition.

That record, unsurprisingly, also belongs to Messi, who hit 19 in 11 appearances during the 2011/12 campaign. Raphinha even edges the Argentine in percentage terms: 54.29% of Barcelona’s goals this season compared to Messi’s 52.78%.

Raphinha’s total includes 12 goals and seven assists. In terms of goals alone, Messi still leads with 14 from that 2011/12 season. Yet in consistency, the Brazilian has the upper hand. He has scored in eight of the club’s 11 matches so far, while Messi did so in just six of his 11 during that historic run.

– Messi (2011/12): 19 goal contributions from 36 team goals (52.78%) in 11 matches
– Raphinha (2024/25): 19 goal contributions from 35 team goals (54.29%) in 11 matches

Broadening the scope to the history of the Champions League since its rebranding, only three players have posted better single-season tallies. Cristiano Ronaldo registered 20 contributions in 12 matches for Real Madrid in 2015/16, and later equalled that figure with 22 in 11 appearances during the 2013/14 season.

Robert Lewandowski also reached 20 — but did so in just 10 matches for Hansi Flick’s Bayern Munich in 2019/20. Notably, all three players lifted the trophy in those respective seasons.

Beyond the current campaign, Raphinha’s love affair with Europe’s top competition began last season. Over his last 14 Champions League appearances, he has produced 15 goals and eight assists.

This marks a stark contrast with his initial spell in the competition, when he failed to score in his first nine matches and recorded only three assists. The Brazilian’s step-up has been nothing short of exceptional.

Most goal contributions (goals + assists) in a single Champions League season for Barcelona
– 19 in 11 matches | Raphinha (2024/25)

– 19 in 11 matches | Messi (2011/12)

– 16 in 13 matches | Messi (2010/11)

– 15 in 10 matches | Messi (2018/19)

– 15 in 13 matches | Messi (2014/15)

– 14 in 12 matches | Messi (2008/09)