Raphinha has written another chapter in Barcelona’s history, becoming the club’s highest-scoring Brazilian player in the UEFA Champions League after surpassing Neymar and Rivaldo.
The 29-year-old reached 23 goals in 36 Champions League appearances for Barcelona following his two-goal performance against Aston Villa on Tuesday, November 3, helping Hansi Flick’s side secure a 3-0 victory at Camp Nou.
The Brazilian opened his account in the 52nd minute with a strike from the edge of the penalty area before adding another goal in the 64th minute, converting a cross from João Cancelo.
Lamine Yamal had previously opened the scoring in the seventh minute, giving Barcelona an early advantage before Raphinha completed the victory with his second-half double.
The performance allowed Raphinha to move ahead of two of Barcelona’s most celebrated Brazilian players in Champions League history.
Raphinha now has 23 goals in 36 appearances, surpassing Rivaldo’s 22 goals in 43 matches and Neymar’s 21 goals in 40 appearances, according to statistics published by Zerozero.
His latest achievement also places him alongside Robert Lewandowski among Barcelona’s leading Champions League scorers, with both players having recorded 23 goals.
Only Lionel Messi, with 120 goals, and Luis Suárez, with 25, remain ahead of Raphinha in the club’s historical scoring rankings under those figures.
The milestone represents another remarkable accomplishment for a player whose future at Barcelona once appeared uncertain.
Raphinha joined the Catalan club from Leeds United in July 2022, arriving with considerable expectations following his performances in the Premier League.
However, his first two seasons in Spain were marked by periods of inconsistency, competition for attacking positions and speculation surrounding his future.
The Brazilian was frequently mentioned as a potential departure during Barcelona’s attempts to reshape their squad and address financial concerns.
His situation changed dramatically following Hansi Flick’s arrival as head coach in 2024.
Under the German manager, Raphinha developed into one of Barcelona’s most influential attacking players, combining goalscoring ability with creativity, relentless pressing and tactical versatility.
His improvement was particularly evident during the 2024-25 Champions League campaign, when he scored 13 goals and helped Barcelona reach the semifinals.
That campaign established him among Europe’s most productive attacking players and demonstrated his ability to deliver against elite opposition.
Raphinha has carried that momentum into the 2026-27 season.
Following his performance against Aston Villa, the Brazilian has recorded 19 goals and three assists in 13 appearances across all competitions.
He has also scored four goals in three Champions League matches this season, maintaining his impressive productivity on the European stage.
His attacking contributions extend beyond scoring goals. Raphinha’s movement allows him to exploit spaces between defenders, while his pressing intensity helps Barcelona recover possession in advanced areas.
His versatility also gives Flick different tactical options, allowing the Brazilian to operate from wide positions or move centrally to create opportunities.
Those qualities have helped transform him from a player whose future at the club was questioned into an established leader within the squad.
Raphinha’s latest achievement also carries special significance considering the history of Brazilian footballers at Barcelona.
Rivaldo won the Ballon d’Or in 1999 during his time with the Catalan club, while Neymar formed part of the celebrated attacking trio alongside Messi and Suárez that helped Barcelona win the Champions League in 2015.
Surpassing their goalscoring figures in Europe’s premier club competition places Raphinha among some of the most accomplished Brazilian players to represent Barcelona.
With the 2026-27 Champions League campaign still underway, Raphinha has an opportunity to extend his record and climb further up the club’s all-time scoring rankings.
His transformation from an uncertain presence in Barcelona’s plans to a record-breaking attacking leader reflects the progress he has made under Flick and his growing importance to the club.
