Raphinha revelling in goal contributions
What a way to end 2024! Raphinha is in unrivalled form and his numbers are showing just that. After his goal in the Westfalenstadion on Tuesday, the Brazilian's European record in 2024 is 12 goal contributions.
The forward's record is nine goals and three assists during this calendar year. Last season he scored a hat-trick against PSG to score the first three goals in Europe in 2024. The Brazilian has now doubled that figure in just three months, scoring 6 goals against Young Boys (1), Bayern Munich (3), Crvena zvezda (1), and Borussia Dortmund (1). One of his assists came last season, with the other two coming this season.
Figures to match Brazilian greats
These 12 participations represent the highest by a Brazilian player in the Champions League over a calendar year. Raphinha therefore equals a record set by some top players. Three of those achieved the feat while wearing blaugrana.
Rivaldo was the first in 2000 while playing for FC Barcelona, with 11 goals and 1 assist. The following year Giovane Élber put up precisely the same record for Bayern Munich.
It wasn't until Neymar came along that the figure was reached again. The forward scored 9 goals and 3 assists in 2015 with Barça, before doing it again with PSG in 2017, with 8 goals and 4 assists. Vinicius Junior and Raphinha were the latest to do it in 2024. Will the latter manage to surpass 12 contributions in 2025?