Barcelona forward matches Cristiano Ronaldo’s Champions League record in Inter defeat | OneFootball

Barcelona may have fallen short in the UEFA Champions League semi-final against Inter Milan, but Raphinha ended the campaign with a personal milestone that will go down in history.

The Brazilian forward equalled Cristiano Ronaldo’s long-standing record for the most goal involvements in a single Champions League season — a total of 21.

Although the second leg was not Raphinha’s best game overall, he showed determination and never stopped pushing forward, and his effort paid off midway through the match.

After receiving a sharp pass from Pedri, Raphinha charged into the box and took a shot with his left foot.

Inter’s goalkeeper, Yann Sommer, managed to save the first attempt, but Raphinha quickly reacted and fired the rebound into the net with his right foot.

That goal not only gave Barcelona hope of a comeback, but it also secured Raphinha’s place in Champions League history.

Securing a place in history books

The goal was his 13th in the competition this season, along with 8 assists, bringing his total to 21 goal involvements. Only Cristiano Ronaldo had achieved this before, during the 2013-14 season.

For Raphinha, this is a huge personal achievement and a clear sign of the major impact he has had on Barcelona’s European campaign.

Raphinha’s overall season at Barcelona has been nothing short of spectacular. In all competitions, he has played 53 matches, scored 32 goals, and provided 22 assists.

That’s 54 goal contributions, averaging more than one goal involvement per game. Whether scoring or setting up his teammates, Raphinha has been one of Barça’s most decisive players this year.

With their Champions League journey now over, Barcelona will turn their full attention to La Liga.

While the team may have missed out on Europe’s top prize, Raphinha’s record-breaking season offers plenty of hope and excitement for what’s to come.