Raphinha sets record for Champions League goal involvements
He is on a roll. Raphinha is simply inspired when it comes to goal involvements this season in Europe. His 20 this season has set a new blaugrana record in Europe's premier club competition, surpassing the best player of all time in Leo Messi, whose record had stood for 13 years.
Messi surpassed
The blaugrana number 11's efforts this season have surpassed Leo Messi's record from the 2011/12 season. He had 19 goal involvements – 14 goals and five assists – a figure in the Champions League that no FC Barcelona player had been able to beat. However, Raphinha is having a sensational season, and his headed assist during the six-goal thriller against Inter Milan took him to 20 goal involvements – 12 goals and 8 assists – setting a new Barça record in Europe's premier club competition.
Looking beyond the Club, Raphinha is close to the all-time record for the tournament – Cristiano Ronaldo with 21 involvements in the 2013/14 season. He has at least one game to equal or better that figure. His first chance comes in the semifinal return leg against the nerazzurri. And just maybe he will be able to add to his tally at the final in Munich.
Seeing the blaugrana captain involved in a goal in the next game wouldn't be so unusual as he has done so in almost every Champions League game this season. He has only failed to score or assist in the first game against Monaco, the match against Brest on Montjuïc, and the quarterfinal return leg against Borussia Dortmund. Young Boys, FK Crvena zvezda, Bayern Munich, Borussia Dortmund, Benfica and Atalanta in the group phase, and Benfica, Borussia Dortmund and Inter Milan in the knockout stages, have all been on the receiving end of Raphinha's goal involvement exploits.
Raphinha involved in half of the goals
He is a key part of this Barça side in Europe, which has now scored 40 goals. This means the forward has been involved in half of the goals Hansi Flick's side have scored. Figures that show the importance of a player with such hunger this season, who is proving to be pivotal for the blaugranes progressing in the Champions League, a competition in which Raphael Dias Belloli is on a roll.