Raphinha close to matching Messi's best scoring campaign in Champions League

If all goes well in Dortmund, Raphinha will have at least the Signal Iduna Park game and two others to further add to his impressive record in this Champions League. And who knows, maybe a fourth in the final. The Brazilian has 12 goals this season and is already the top scorer in the last three seasons, along with Erling Haaland in 2022-23. 

The former Leeds man shares 9th place with the Norwegian in the list of players with the most goals in a single edition of the competition. The Leo Messi of 2018-19 also reached 12, but in 10 games, to the 11 of the Brazilian. As for the best version of the Argentine, it was in the 2011-12 campaign: he finished with 14 goals, a record that could reach the former Leeds man.

Only on five occasions have the Argentinian's goals been surpassed. Cristiano Ronaldo did it three times. The Portuguese takes gold and silver on the podium, as well as sharing bronze with Karim Benzema and Robert Lewandowski. He netted 17 in 2013-14, 16 in 2015-16 and 15 in 2017-18, the same figure achieved by the Pole (2019-20) and the Frenchman (2021-22).

But Raphinha's contribution is not just limited to goals. His brilliance is also reflected in assists. He already has the 10th most assists in a Champions League campaign with seven, the same as Bruno Fernandes in 2021-22. If he provides one more goal, he will join the 7 who share second place. Eight assists have been made by Luis Figo (99-00), Deco (03-04), Toni Kroos (11-12), Dwight Yorke (98-99), James Milner (17-18), David Beckham (98-99) and Neymar (16-17). At the top, there is Figo in 2000-01 with 9 in his first season at Real Madrid.