The milestones just keep on coming for former Leeds United star turned Barcelona and Brazil talisman Raphinha.
This month already, Raphinha equalled Brazil legend Ronaldo in the Camp Nou history books.
He struck his 47th goal in Barcelona colours in a 3-1 Champions League cruise past Benfica. Fire the Blaugrana to European glory for the first time since the Luis Enrique days and the star-studded ‘MSN’ frontline of Lionel Messi, Luis Suarez and Neymar, and Leeds will bank £10 million as part of terms agreed with Barcelona during his Elland Road departure in 2022.
An assist as Hansi Flick’s side came from 2-0 down to defeat Atletico Madrid 4-2 last weekend – the first time Diego Simeone has ever been on the wrong end of such a turnaround – meant Raphinha now has 100 goals or assists in a Barca shirt.
Photo by Buda Mendes/Getty Images
Photo by Buda Mendes/Getty Images
Raphinha hits another milestone as Leeds United icon inspires Brazil win
Remarkably, nearly half of those have come this season alone. A semi-reliable goalscorer at Elland Road, Raphinha has gone stratospheric in Spain. 27 goals and 20 assists already, with two months still remaining in what is comfortably his most potent campaign ever.
The Brazilian national team, meanwhile, are now starting to feel the benefits of Flick’s success in turning Leeds United’s one-time number ten into one of the game’s greatest goalscorers.
Not content with opening the scoring via the penalty spot in Brazil’s 2-1 win over Colombia on Thursday, Raphinha also assisted Vinicius Junior’s 99th minute winner. Five goals or assists in his last four Selecao outings.
And, across all competitions for club and country, 50 for the 2024/25 season alone.
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⭐️🇧🇷 Raphinha has now reached 50 G/A for club and country this season after one more goal, one more assist for Brazil.
Unbelievable impact with Barça and Brazil. pic.twitter.com/MdiWcJqMxi
— Fabrizio Romano (@FabrizioRomano) March 21, 2025
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Now, as assists go, this was more in line with Sergio Busquets’ sideways pass before Lionel Messi’s stunning solo goal in that iconic Champions League victory over Barcelona. Raphinha laid the ball off and Vini Jr did the rest, fizzing home from 25 yards via a deflection.
Yet, such is the way of the world right now, everything Raphinha touches seems to turn to gold. Or, as is more appropriate, goals.
“This season, he is the best Brazilian player in the world,” Milton Neves wrote while handing Raphinha an 8.5/10 rating in his UOL column. “And he proved it with his wonderful movement that drove the Colombian defence crazy. The penalty he took was also very well taken.”
Raphinha chasing down Lionel Messi
Only Lionel Messi, with six, has more goals in South America’s World Cup qualifying campaign right now than Raphinha, on five.
Furthermore, following a poor run of four wins in 11 qualifiers – a run which had some even fearing that automatic qualification for the 2026 World Cup may be in question – the man himself feels that the nature of Brazil’s most dramatic of victories over Colombia could be a turning point in a torturous campaign.
“We really needed this victory,” a relieved Raphinha sighs. “Not just us, but the people who are with us every day and also our fans. Everyone needed this victory to give us confidence because we still have a lot of competition ahead of us.”