Leading by example: Barcelona captain has the most goal contributions in UCL this season | OneFootball

Barcelona forward Raphinha has become a name impossible to ignore in Portugal, especially after his outstanding performances at the Estadio da Luz.

The Brazilian winger has made the stadium his personal playground, first delivering a stunning brace in a thrilling 5-4 victory on 21 January.

More recently, he once again proved to be the difference-maker, scoring the only goal in the first leg of the Champions League Round of 16 clash against Benfica.

With this crucial strike, Barcelona have placed themselves in an excellent position to secure a spot in the quarterfinals.

After recovering possession in the attacking third, he advanced with confidence and unleashed a powerful left-footed shot.

The Benfica goalkeeper was left helpless as the ball found the back of the net, further cementing the Brazilian’s dominance at the Lisbon venue.

Leading the chart

In the current Champions League campaign, Raphinha is proving to be one of the most decisive attackers.

Based on official UEFA statistics following the first leg of the Round of 16, the Barcelona winger stands out as the most efficient forward among all participants in the competition.

Raphinha has the best G/A tally in the UEFA Champions League this season.

With his latest goal, Raphinha has now scored nine times in this season’s Champions League. He shares this tally with Bayern Munich’s Harry Kane and his Barcelona teammate Robert Lewandowski.

However, what sets him apart is his creativity in the final third. Having provided five assists, Raphinha has directly contributed to 14 goals—more than any other player in the tournament.

Undeniable impact

In comparison, Borussia Dortmund’s Serhou Guirassy is currently the top scorer in the competition with ten goals.

However, he has only managed three assists, bringing his overall goal contribution to 13, one fewer than the Barcelona winger.

Regardless of what happens next, one thing is certain—Barcelona are benefiting from a spectacular version of Raphinha.

The Catalan club have netted 29 goals in the Champions League this season, and the Brazilian has played a part in nearly half of them with his combined goals and assists.

His impact has been undeniable, and if he continues at this level, he could be the key to Barcelona’s success in Europe this season.