Barcelona forward Raphinha has set a new club record in the UEFA Champions League, surpassing a milestone previously held by legendary former captain Lionel Messi.
The Brazilian winger achieved the feat during Barcelona’s semi-final first-leg clash against Inter Milan on Wednesday night at the Olympic Stadium in Catalunya. Raphinha was instrumental in helping La Blaugrana battle back from a two-goal deficit to secure a thrilling 3-3 draw with the Serie A side.
The 28-year-old scored once and assisted another in the high-stakes encounter, bringing his total goal contributions in this season’s Champions League to 20—consisting of 12 goals and 8 assists in just 13 appearances. This surpasses Messi’s long-standing record of 19 goal contributions in a single Champions League campaign, which the Argentine maestro set during the 2011-12 season.
Raphinha’s assist came in the 38th minute when he expertly cushioned a header into the path of Ferran Torres, who finished from close range to score Barcelona’s second goal. His performance helped spark a spirited comeback by the Catalan club, delighting the home supporters.
The Brazil international came close to increasing his tally in the second half when a powerful shot from outside the box struck the crossbar—denying him a potential second goal and further extension of his record.
Raphinha’s overall form this season has been nothing short of sensational. With 51 goal contributions in 51 appearances across all competitions, he has become a crucial figure in Xavi’s squad and one of Europe’s standout performers.
