Raphinha remains in Ballon d'Or mode: 55 goals produced with Barça in 24/25!

FC Barcelona was one step away from winning its 28th LaLiga title thanks to a narrow victory against Valladolid (1-2). Hansi Flick's team once again had Raphinha as a protagonist.

The Brazilian had a day of rest with his sights set on the return leg of the Champions League 'semis' against Inter Milan. However, the poor first half performance by the 'culés' forced the coach to use his starting attackers to overcome the initial disadvantage.

With Valladolid ahead on the scoreboard from the 6th minute, Barça poured over the rival area, but only in the 54th minute did they manage to equalize the actions thanks to Raphinha's 16th goal in the tournament.

The '11' took advantage of a short clearance with the fists by goalkeeper Ferreira to finish with his right foot, into an empty net. Six minutes later, Fermín López would score the winning goal for the 'azulgranas'.

🔝Raphinha's Record: Equaled his goals from the last 3 years in a single season

Raphinha celebrating a goal against Celta

Thus, Rafa reached 31 goals and 24 assists in 51 matches this season (4,162 minutes). In La Liga, he has scored 16 goals, in addition to 12 in the Champions League (Pichichi) and 1 in the Copa del Rey. In the Spanish Super Cup he also scored 2 goals.

Without a doubt, Raphinha is completing the season of his life. The '11' 'culé' has already scored as many goals this 2024-25 season as in the previous 3 seasons with Barça and Leeds. In his last year in England, the Brazilian scored 11 goals and 3 assists with Leeds.

Afterwards, in his debut season with the 'azulgrana' shirt, he added 10 goals and 12 assists in 50 appearances. And, in the 23/24 season, the last season with Xavi Hernández on the bench, Rafa closed again with 10 goals and 13 assists in 37 appearances.

In 24/25, however, he already accumulates 55 involvements in goals, that is, he has produced 1.07 goals per match. Historic figures that can lead him to win the Ballon d'Or if Barça, finally, wins the treble this season.

⚽Raphinha is going for another Neymar record with Barcelona

Neymar Jr., in a match with Barça in 2015

In that sense, the Porto Alegre native still has possibilities to equal the top scorer for a Brazilian footballer in European football. The record is held by Neymar, who closed the 2014/15 season with 39 goals and 10 assists.

That season, the last in which the 'culés' won the Champions League and the treble, Ney produced 49 goals, 5 less than Rafa this season. However, for the current Santos footballer, his best season was 2015-16.

Although he scored 8 goals less (31), the Mogi das Cruzes native gave 25 assists, that is, he participated in 56 goals with Luis Enrique's team. In his last season as a 'culé', Neymar scored 20 goals and 26 assists. 

As things stand, Raphinha still has at least 5 more matches to surpass his compatriot's top scorer. Barça has 4 La Liga matchdays left to play and the return leg of the Champions League 'semis' against Inter.

If the 'culés' advance to the final in Munich, Rafa will have another opportunity to establish himself as a virtual Ballon d'Or 2025. Will he achieve it?

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