Raphinha Surpasses Neymar, Kaka With Historic UCL Feat

Barcelona winger Raphinha made history on Tuesday, breaking a long-standing Champions League record previously held by Brazilian legends like Neymar and Kaka.

His achievement came after scoring twice in Barcelona’s Round of 16 second-leg match against Benfica.

With these two goals, Raphinha became the highest-scoring Brazilian in a single Champions League season, surpassing the previous record of 10 goals. This record had been shared by several football greats, including Neymar, who reached the milestone in Barcelona’s 2014-15 treble-winning campaign, Kaka, who hit the mark during AC Milan’s victorious 2006-07 season, as well as Rivaldo, Jardel, and Roberto Firmino, who achieved the feat while playing for Barcelona, Porto, and Liverpool, respectively.

Raphinha opened the scoring in the 11th minute at the Estadi Olímpic Lluís Companys, giving Barcelona a strong 2-0 aggregate lead. However, Benfica quickly responded as Nicolás Otamendi equalized just two minutes later, momentarily shifting momentum in favor of the Portuguese side. Despite this, Lamine Yamal restored Barcelona’s lead with a goal in the 27th minute.

As halftime approached, Raphinha struck again in the 42nd minute, sealing the victory for Barcelona and securing his place in Champions League history. His outstanding performance not only helped his team advance but also highlighted his incredible form this season.

At 28 years old, Raphinha has been a key player for Barcelona, and his brace against Benfica further solidified his importance to the squad. His overall contributions this season now include 27 goals and 19 assists across all competitions. In the Champions League alone, he has netted 11 times, proving his significant impact under the management of Hansi Flick.
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