Raphinha has broken Messi’s Champions League record and is closing in on Ronaldo’s all-time mark
Barcelona winger Raphinha has made history in the Champions League this season, surpassing Lionel Messi’s long-standing club record for most goal involvements in a single European campaign. The Brazilian is now also just one shy of Cristiano Ronaldo’s all-time record.
Raphinha assisted for Ferran Torres to score Barcelona’s second in the 3-3 semi-final first-leg draw with Inter Milan on Wednesday. It took his tally to 20 goal contributions in Europe this season, comprising 12 goals and 8 assists. That total eclipses Messi’s record of 19 from the 2011/12 season. It is the highest any Barcelona has produced in the Champions League.
Raphinha now stands on the brink of equalling Ronaldo’s record of 21, which the Portuguese superstar set during Real Madrid’s 2013/14 campaign.
The 27-year-old has been in sensational form for Hansi Flick’s side this campaign, which has seen the club make their return to the Champions League’s final four for the first time since 2019. Remarkably, Raphinha has been involved in a goal in all but three of Barca’s European fixtures this season: the group stage opener against Monaco, the home clash with Brest, and the quarter-final second leg against Borussia Dortmund.
That consistency has helped Barcelona to a total of 40 goals in the tournament so far, with Raphinha contributing to exactly half. It’s a figure that underlines just how central he is to the Catalan club’s attack.
But the former Leeds United winger’s run of form is certainly not in Europe alone. Across all competitions he is having an incredible season, having notched 27 goals and provided 20 assists, a total of 47 goal involvements.
Barcelona travel to San Siro next week for the semi-final second leg against Inter, with Raphinha needing just one more goal or assist to match Ronaldo’s all-time single-season Champions League record.
He’ll also be hoping of course to lead the team to the final in Munich, where he’ll have the opportunity both to lift the elite trophy and to set a new record at the apex of European football.
