Raphinha shines in Barça-Inter: Surpasses Messi and makes Champions League history

FC Barcelona drew against Inter Milan (3-3) in the first leg of the UEFA Champions League semifinals. Hansi Flick's team recovered from a 0-2 deficit in the first 21 minutes, but failed to take the lead at home. Even so, the result is not entirely bad and the night was historic for the Culés for several reasons.

In addition to celebrating Lamine Yamal's 100th official match with the azulgrana shirt, Raphinha also made history by adding his eighth assist of the tournament. In the 38th minute, the Brazilian assisted, with a header, after a chipped pass from Pedri, Ferran Torres so that the 'Shark' scored the 2-2 partial.

🔝Raphinha surpasses Leo Messi: 20 goal involvements in the Champions League

Raphinha, disputing a ball in the Barça-Inter (3-3)

This allowed the '11' to surpass a record held by Leo Messi since the 2011-12 season. Until now, the Argentinian was the Barça player with the most goal involvements in a Champions League edition. That season, 'La Pulga' scored 14 goals and 5 assists in 11 matches with Pep Guardiola's team.

Raphinha, for his part, has 12 goals and 8 assists in 13 appearances in this Champions League edition, that is, he has participated in 20 of the 40 goals scored by the team managed by Hansi Flick (50%). In this way, the Porto Alegre player continues to deserve to be one of the main candidates for the 2025 Ballon d'Or.

In total, the 27-year-old winger has 30 goals and 22 assists in all competitions, that is, he has produced 52 goals in 51 matches in 24-25. Barça has already scored 158 goals in 54 matches, so Rafa's goal involvement percentage is 32.9%. Robert Lewandowski (40G/3A), follows with 27.21%.

❌⚽Raphinha's 'almost-golazo': key to Barça avoiding defeat at Montjuïc

For Raphinha, however, the day was bittersweet for two reasons: firstly, the inability to celebrate a victory that would have left the azulgrana team on the verge of the Champions League final. In addition, UEFA denied him a golazo that resulted in the final 3-3 in the 66th minute.

The Brazilian received a corner served by Pedri from the left, after a set play in which Lamine Yamal let the ball go so that the '11', first-time, unleashed a left-footed shot impossible for Yann Sommer. The ball hit the crossbar and then the goalkeeper's back to end up in the goal. 

Therefore, UEFA counts the goal as an own goal by the Swiss international, who also saved two very dangerous shots from the azulgrana forward in the final minutes, thus preserving the draw for Inter.

Raphinha's self-criticism after Barça-Inter

After the match, Rafa was self-critical about the goals conceded, as well as the inability to take the lead at home.

"Conceding so many goals at home is unacceptable, but we have to give credit to Inter. They are very strong at corners (...). Perhaps we take too many risks," he began by saying. In that sense, he added:

"We wanted a positive result and our obligation is to come out victorious from here. The result is not the worst of all We will prepare much better to come out of the second leg with the qualification," he told 'Movistar'.