Rapinha etched his name in the history books
Photo : AP
KEY HIGHLIGHTS
- Raphinha created history for Barcelona
- Raphina has joined Cristiano Ronaldo and Robert Lewandowski in a rare list
- Barcelona are looking to win the Champions League after a decade
Barcelona star Raphinha continued his remarkable season with calls for a potential Ballon D'or win growing during the Catalan club's dramatic 3-3 draw against Inter Milan in the first leg of the 2024-25 UEFA Champions League (UCL) semi-final on Wednesday (April 30) at the Lluís Companys Olympic Stadium in Barcelona.
Aiming to reach their first UCL in 10 years, the hosts were rocked early as they 2-0 down in the first half of the match. However, the hosts made a strong comeback to level the scores before half-time with goals from Lamine Yamal and Ferron Torries. Raphinha assisted Torres' goal before both teams scored one each in the second half as the match ended in a 3-3 tie before the second leg at San Siro.
Raphinha Creates History
The assist for Torres' goal marked the 20th goal contribution for Raphina in the ongoing Champions League campaign. So far, he has 12 goals to his name and eight assists. The Brazilian star has been instrumental in Barcelona's remarkable run that has made them hot favourite to be crowned European Champions after a decade.
Raphinha broke Lionel Messi's record (19) in the 2011-12 campaign and has now Bbecome the first Barcelona and South American player to manage 20 goal contributions in a single edition of the Champions League.
Raphinha is only the third player, after Cristiano Ronaldo and Robert Lewandowski, to manage the elusive feat. Remarkably, Ronaldo is the only player to hit 20 goal contributions in a season twice.
Most Goal Contributions In A Season (UEFA Champions League)
| Player |
Goal Contributions |
Season |
Club |
| Cristiano Ronaldo |
21 |
2013-14 |
Real Madrid |
| Robert Lewandowski |
20 |
2019-20 |
Bayern Munich |
| Raphinha |
20 |
2024-25 |
Barcelona |
| Cristiano Ronaldo |
20 |
2015-16 |
Real Madrid |
| Lionel Messi |
19 |
2011-12 |
Bayern Munich |
Raphina has at least one more match left in the ongoing campaign (second leg vs Inter), and if the Catalans manage to reach the final, he has two matches and needs two more contributions to break Ronaldo's record.
The summit clash is scheduled to take place on May 31st in Munich, where the winner of the Barca-Inter clash will face either Arsenal or PSG.
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