Barcelona head to the San Siro for the second leg of their Champions League semi-final against Inter Milan with the tie finely balanced – and Raphinha at the heart of their charge to the final.
In the 3-3 first leg thriller, the Brazilian’s thunderous shot led to Barça’s third goal, officially counted as an own goal by Inter’s Yann Sommer after the ball rebounded off the crossbar and into the net via the goalkeeper. Still, Raphinha’s impact was undeniable.
His Champions League record this season speaks volumes: 12 goals and 9 assists in 13 matches – a total of 21 goal involvements. That surpasses Lionel Messi’s best-ever contribution in a single Champions League campaign with Barcelona, which stood at 19.
Overall, Raphinha has amassed 31 goals and 25 assists in 52 games this season, a major reason why Barcelona remain in contention for an unprecedented quadruple, having already secured the Copa del Rey and Spanish Super Cup.
His rise has coincided with the arrival of coach Hansi Flick, who Raphinha credits for transforming his mindset and performances.
“Honestly, he changed everything for me,” Raphinha said in April. “I was going to leave the club before the season started. He convinced me to stay, gave me the confidence I needed. This is the best season of my career – all thanks to him.”
Raphinha joined Barcelona in 2022 during a financial overhaul that saw the club sell off future assets to fund signings. While his first season ended in a La Liga title, inconsistency held him back. In 2023, both he and the team struggled, and with Lamine Yamal emerging on the right wing, Raphinha appeared destined to be sold.
Offers came from the Premier League and Saudi Arabia, but Flick’s influence and tactical reshuffle gave him a lifeline on the left wing. Since then, his energy, pressing, and productivity have made him a leader in Flick’s system.
“Raphinha is very important,” Flick said. “He’s a leader with a positive mentality that lifts the team.”
The 28-year-old narrowly trails Serhou Guirassy in the Champions League scoring race and nearly closed the gap against Inter, only to be denied by the crossbar. Still, he assisted Ferran Torres’ goal in that match and continues to show the hunger to drive this young Barcelona team forward.
Unapologetically ambitious, Raphinha said after the first leg: “It is unacceptable to concede so many goals at home.”
With the spotlight on teenage sensation Yamal, Raphinha will quietly continue doing the heavy lifting at the San Siro, determined to help Barcelona reach their first Champions League final since 2015.
