Raphinha: Goal or own goal? The 3-3 draw against Inter sparks debate.

Published:1/05/2025 - 00:03h

Updated:1/05/2025 - 00:03h

Raphinha scored a stunning goal against Inter with a powerful shot from outside the area following a corner, which hit the crossbar and bounced off the goalkeeper, resulting in a 3-3 draw in a thrilling Champions League semi-final clash.

Raphinha scored the 3-3, a key goal in the first leg of the 2024/25 Champions League semi-finals between FC Barcelona and Inter Milan. However, UEFA credited the goal as an own goal by Inter goalkeeper Yann Sommer.

What a goal by Raphinha! A match no one will forget

The goal came in the 65th minute, when Barcelona was looking to equalize a very hard-fought match. The play originated from a low corner taken short by Barça, with Lamine Yamal letting the ball pass to Raphinha, who unleashed a left-footed shot from long range that hit the crossbar, touched Sommer, and ended up inside the net. An unbelievable goal.

🎮 R2 hasta dejarte sin huella dactilar:

💥 EL CAÑONAZO DE RAPHINHA. #UCL #LaCasaDelFútbol pic.twitter.com/nTiQgTuDo5
— Fútbol en Movistar Plus+ (@MovistarFutbol) April 30, 2025

🔥 The shot that sparked controversy

The ball rebounded off goalkeeper Yann Sommer's back and ended up in the net, making it 3-3 on the scoreboard at that moment. The goal was described as a "missile" and a stroke of luck, as the deflection off Sommer was crucial for the ball to cross the goal line. This goal allowed Barcelona to equalize a match that had been truly crazy, with back-and-forth scoring and goals from both teams.

Raphinha, who is in the running for the Champions League top scorer award (Pichichi), could have added his 13th goal in the competition, equaling Serhou Guirassy at the top of the scoring charts. Fortunately for him, the Guinean player will no longer be able to add more goals in the tournament after Dortmund's elimination.

Raphinha: 12 goals in 13 Champions League matches with Barça

This season, the Brazilian has started in all 8 group stage matches and all 5 knockout stage matches. Only against Red Star Belgrade (2-5) did he play less than 60 minutes (58') and he has managed to score in 8 of the 13 matches played.

Raphinha debuted without scoring against Monaco (2-1), but found the net against Young Boys (5-0), Bayern Munich (hat-trick in the 4-1), and Red Star Belgrade, a match where he also provided an assist.

Afterwards, he scored again against Borussia Dortmund (2-3) and Benfica (double in the 4-5) to finish the group stage with 7 goals. Against Brest (3-0) and Atalanta (2-2) he couldn't score, but he added a couple of assists against the Italians.

In the round of 16, he once again devastated Benfica, scoring 3 of Barça's 4 goals in the tie. In fact, the number '11' was involved in all the goals, as he also assisted Lamine Yamal's temporary 2-1 goal in the second leg.

And, in the first leg of the quarterfinals against Dortmund, he scored the first goal and added another pair of key assists for the Blaugrana team to seal the tie at Montjuïc (4-0).

Raphinha's path to the Pichichi

Thus, with Guirassy eliminated and Lewandowski with little chance of playing the second leg of the 'semis' against Inter, Raphinha will have a clear path to become the Champions League top scorer for the first time in his career.

The only other scoring players still in the semi-finals besides Barcelona's attacking duo are Lautaro Martínez (Inter Milan) and Ousmane Dembélé (Paris Saint-Germain), both with 8 goals each. However, both have been injured and could drop out of the race for the European Golden Boot.

In three seasons with Barcelona, the winger has played 22 matches, with a total of 15 goals and 12 assists. In his first two campaigns, the Porto Alegre native had barely scored 4 goals.

Will Raphinha be able to take a definitive step towards the Ballon d'Or as the Champions League top scorer?

Facing them will be an Inter side that, so far, has only conceded 8 goals in 13 matches, boasting the best defense in the tournament before conceding 3 goals at Montjuïc.

The record for the most goals in a single edition of the Champions League with the Barça shirt is held by Leo Messi, with 14 goals in 2011-12.