Raphinha Scores Twice in Barcelona's Champions League Win and Rejects Ballon d'Or Discussion
Raphinha Leads Barcelona to Victory in Champions League Debut
Raphinha delivered an outstanding performance in Barcelona's Champions League opener, netting two goals while playing as a makeshift centre-forward. The Brazilian captain praised his team's display and showed strong support for young teammate Lamine Yamal, but firmly declined to comment on his exclusion from the Ballon d'Or shortlist.
Dominant Display from Raphinha Up Front
Operating in an unusual role upfront, Raphinha returned to top form, inspiring the Catalan side to a convincing home victory. His first goal featured a quick cutback that left two defenders behind, and his second was a perfectly timed run finished off following a setup by Pedri.
These two strikes pushed his season tally to eight goals in just five matches, marking a blazing start to the campaign.
High Standards Set for Home Performances
After the final whistle, Raphinha talked about the expectations that come with playing in front of the passionate Barcelona fans. The 29-year-old expressed pride in how the squad controlled the game's rhythm from the beginning and stressed the importance of consistency throughout the season.
"Playing in front of our fans, we have to play almost perfect football," Raphinha said. "We've been very good from the start, controlling the game. Starting like this gives us a lot of confidence."
Leadership and Encouragement for Lamine Yamal
Beyond his goals, Raphinha showed leadership by motivating youngster Lamine Yamal before the teenager converted a free-kick goal. Noticing moments when Lamine struggled to keep focus amid frustration, the captain offered words of encouragement and celebrated warmly after the goal.
"I know when he's losing focus because things aren't going his way," Raphinha explained. "I was trying to encourage him. I'm very happy he scored, I'm sure he needed that goal."
Raphinha Avoids Ballon d'Or Talk, Focuses on Team
When asked about missing out on the Ballon d'Or shortlist, Raphinha smiled but quickly shut down the topic, choosing instead to highlight the team's collective efforts.
"I don't talk about that, I talk about Barcelona," Raphinha concluded. "We're having a spectacular season."
- Match: Barcelona Champions League Opener
- Date: 10 September 2026
- Player: Raphinha (Captain)
- Goals Scored: 2
- Season Goals: 8 goals in 5 matches
