Category: ronaldo

Barcelona might not have reached the UEFA Champions League final after losing 4-3 to Inter Milan in the second leg of the semifinals, Raphinha made history by equalling a Cristiano Ronaldo’s record, one that not even Lionel Messi could reach.

With his goal against Inter, the Brazilian star reached 21 goals involvements (13 goals, 8 assists) in a single Champions League campaign. It’s the same number that Ronaldo achieved in the 2013-14 season (17 goals and four assists).

Robert Lewandowski, who was absent from today’s match, also amassed 21 goal contributions in a single campaign, with 15 goals and six assists as Bayern Munich won the Champions League in the 2019/20 season.

Meanwhile, Lionel Messi’s most goals contributions in a single Champions League campaign were 19, which he reached in the 2011-12 season with Barcelona. In that season, the Argentine star scored 14 goals and registered five assists.

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Soccer’s highest-paid players in 2025: Who’s making millions?

Barcelona could not complete their comeback vs Inter Milan

The Blaugranas were close to reaching the final after Raphinha scored at the 87th minute, giving the visitors the advantage of 3-2, after coming back from a 2-0 deficit in the first half. Eric Garcia and Dani Olmo scored in the second half to match Lautaro Martinez and Hakan Calhanoglu’s goals.

However, Francesco Acerbi crushed their hopes with a goal at stoppage time (90+3’), and in the extra time, Davide Frattesi certified the win (99’). Inter won the series with a 7-6 scoring on aggregate, in one of the most contending clashes in the competition in recent memory.

Raphinha’s numbers with Barcelona this season

This season, Raphinha has been one of the most consistent players under Hansi Flick. The Brazilian star has been a key factor for Barcelona’s successes this season, which already include two titles, with Copa del Rey and Supercopa de España.

Across all competitions, he has tallied 32 goals and 25 assists. In LaLiga, which Barcelona are leading currently, he has scored 16 goals and added 11 assists in 32 appearances. In the Copa del Rey, he contributed with one goal and four assists.

Raphinha matched a Cristiano Ronaldo Champions League record with a late strike for Barcelona against Inter.

Barcelona were beaten to the Champions League semi-final by Inter Milan in an instant semi-final classic – despite Raphinha making an astonishing piece of European history.

The Barca star appeared to have sealed a stunning comeback win at the San Siro, putting his side 3-2 up on the night and 6-5 on aggregate with just minutes remaining.

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However, the tie went to extra time as Francesco Acerbi netted an equaliser deep into stoppage time.

After a remarkable 3-3 first leg at Montjuic, part two lived up to expectations and then some with the same scoreline inside 90 minutes.

Inter did what they excelled at in Spain last week with another rapid start, going 2-0 up again, this time through Lautaro Martinez and then Hakan Calhanoglu from the penalty spot.

It looked like Barca were in huge trouble, but they once again stepped up after the break with Eric Garcia and then Dani Olmo levelling things up.

Raphinha then thought he’d booked a final spot in Munich with his late strike, only to be denied by Acerbi.

The Serie A giants won the tie in extra time thanks to a neat left-footed strike by Davide Frattesi in the first period.

Lamine Yamal threatened to take the contest to penalties, but he was denied by two superb saves from Inter gloveman Yann Sommer.

The Brazil international wasn’t denied an incredible piece of history, though, as his goal made it 21 contributions this season – 13 goals, eight assists.

That equals Cristiano Ronaldo’s 21 from the 2013/14 season with Real Madrid, a watermark that looked like it would never be matched.

Ronaldo has an argument to keep himself top, though, as he reached 21 in 11 games, while this was Raphinha’s 14th match of the season in Europe.

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Although that will be scant consolation for the Ballon d’Or contender with Barca suffering more European heartache, having exited the competition in similarly gut-wrenching circumstances in 2019, when they lost 4-3 on aggregate to Liverpool.

In fact, Barcelona‘s loss to Inter is the eighth time they have been eliminated at the semi-final stage of the Champions League.

It is the equal-most amount of times any team have exited the Champions League at that stage alongside Real Madrid.

Not only that, Barcelona have now failed to progress to the final for the fourth time from their last five semi-final berths.

Reacting to the loss on social media, Raphinha, who left the pitch in tears at full-time, wrote: “We will come back stronger… Thanks to everyone’s support culers … we are still together…

“The season ain’t over yet. Every day that passes, I’m more proud to wear these colours, proud of this team. Long live Barça always.”

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Manager Hansi Flick then complained about the performance of referee Szymon Marciniak, claiming Inter were favoured in the tie.

“I don’t want to talk too much about the referee, but every decision that was 50-50 went (Inter’s) way,” Flick said.

“I am disappointed, but not with my team. They tried everything. It’s the way it is. We are out, but next year we will try again to make the fans happy.

“It makes me sad… My team did an excellent job. I don’t like talking about the referee… I’ve told him what I think, but I’m not going to say it here what I’ve said.”

Inter, who lost the 2023 final to Manchester City, will meet the winner of the Paris Saint-Germain vs Arsenal tie in the final at the Allianz Arena on May 31.

The Parisians hold a 1-0 lead on aggregate over Arsenal thanks to Ousmane Dembele‘s early strike.

Listen to full commentary of PSG vs Arsenal on Wednesday night, live on talkSPORT.

Barcelona were beaten to the Champions League semi-final by Inter Milan in an instant semi-final classic – despite Raphinha making an astonishing piece of European history.

The Barca star appeared to have sealed a stunning comeback win at the San Siro, putting his side 3-2 up on the night and 6-5 on aggregate with just minutes remaining.

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However, the tie went to extra time as Francesco Acerbi netted an equaliser deep into stoppage time.

After a remarkable 3-3 first leg at Montjuic, part two lived up to expectations and then some with the same scoreline inside 90 minutes.

Inter did what they excelled at in Spain last week with another rapid start, going 2-0 up again, this time through Lautaro Martinez and then Hakan Calhanoglu from the penalty spot.

It looked like Barca were in huge trouble, but they once again stepped up after the break with Eric Garcia and then Dani Olmo levelling things up.

Raphinha then thought he’d booked a final spot in Munich with his late strike, only to be denied by Acerbi.

The Serie A giants won the tie in extra time thanks to a neat left-footed strike by Davide Frattesi in the first period.

Lamine Yamal threatened to take the contest to penalties, but he was denied by two superb saves from Inter gloveman Yann Sommer.

The Brazil international wasn’t denied an incredible piece of history, though, as his goal made it 21 contributions this season – 13 goals, eight assists.

That equals Cristiano Ronaldo’s 21 from the 2013/14 season with Real Madrid, a watermark that looked like it would never be matched.

Ronaldo has an argument to keep himself top, though, as he reached 21 in 11 games, while this was Raphinha’s 14th match of the season in Europe.

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Although that will be scant consolation for the Ballon d’Or contender with Barca suffering more European heartache, having exited the competition in similarly gut-wrenching circumstances in 2019, when they lost 4-3 on aggregate to Liverpool.

In fact, Barcelona‘s loss to Inter is the eighth time they have been eliminated at the semi-final stage of the Champions League.

It is the equal-most amount of times any team have exited the Champions League at that stage alongside Real Madrid.

Not only that, Barcelona have now failed to progress to the final for the fourth time from their last five semi-final berths.

Reacting to the loss on social media, Raphinha, who left the pitch in tears at full-time, wrote: “We will come back stronger… Thanks to everyone’s support culers … we are still together…

“The season ain’t over yet. Every day that passes, I’m more proud to wear these colours, proud of this team. Long live Barça always.”

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Manager Hansi Flick then complained about the performance of referee Szymon Marciniak, claiming Inter were favoured in the tie.

“I don’t want to talk too much about the referee, but every decision that was 50-50 went (Inter’s) way,” Flick said.

“I am disappointed, but not with my team. They tried everything. It’s the way it is. We are out, but next year we will try again to make the fans happy.

“It makes me sad… My team did an excellent job. I don’t like talking about the referee… I’ve told him what I think, but I’m not going to say it here what I’ve said.”

Inter, who lost the 2023 final to Manchester City, will meet the winner of the Paris Saint-Germain vs Arsenal tie in the final at the Allianz Arena on May 31.

The Parisians hold a 1-0 lead on aggregate over Arsenal thanks to Ousmane Dembele‘s early strike.

Listen to full commentary of PSG vs Arsenal on Wednesday night, live on talkSPORT.

Raphinha has been one of the breakout stars of the 2024–25 season, helping FC Barcelona reestablish themselves as one of the most competitive teams in the world. The Brazilian winger added to his stellar campaign with a goal against Inter Milan, matching a unique Champions League record previously held by Cristiano Ronaldo.

Inter hosted Barcelona in the second leg of the Champions League semifinal and jumped out to a 2–0 lead by halftime. However, Barça rallied in the second half to finish with a dramatic 3–3 draw to take the game to extra time, with Raphinha finding the net in the 87th minute to help secure the result.

With that goal, Raphinha became the second player in history to record 22 goal involvements in a single Champions League season. Across 14 appearances in this year’s tournament, he has tallied 13 goals and 9 assists—tying the mark set by Ronaldo during the 2013–14 campaign.

Ronaldo set the record with 17 goals and 5 assists in just 11 games under the previous Champions League format. That season culminated in Real Madrid’s long-awaited “La Décima”—their 10th Champions League title.

The difference between the two player’s records is that, while Raphinha matched the same number of goal contributions, it took him 14 matches under the expanded format, giving him more opportunities than the Portuguese legend.

see also

From Cristiano Ronaldo to Barcelona’s Lamine Yamal—Now to court? Agent Jorge Mendes under fire as major tax fraud allegations emerge

Raphinha and renewed confidence at Barcelona

Raphinha has emerged as a legitimate Ballon d’Or contender—not just for his numbers, but for the key role he has played in Barcelona’s resurgence. The turnaround in his form is partly attributed to the confidence instilled in him by head coach Hansi Flick. In contrast, Raphinha previously voiced frustration over his role under former manager Xavi Hernández.

“I felt like the coaching staff didn’t have any confidence in me. When there was no other, I was there and I played 90 minutes. I gave everything I could give and had an impact on games, but when there was another who could play in my place, they picked them without even thinking about it,” he said in an interview with Isabela Pagliari’s YouTube channel.

The arrival of Flick ahead of the 2024–25 campaign marked a fresh start in the Spanish club. When asked about his approach to players, Raphinha had nothing but praise for the German boss: “He is someone who looks out for all the players, those that are playing and those that are not playing.”

One of soccer’s most powerful figures is facing legal troubles back home—but insists he has nothing to hide. Jorge Mendes, widely considered the most influential agents, is under intense scrutiny in his native Portugal after being formally accused of ’massive’ tax fraud. Despite denying any wrongdoing, Mendes has signaled his intent to pay the full amount demanded by Portuguese authorities—raising eyebrows across the soccer world.

The case stems not from his dealings in soccer transfers, but from a complex personal financial transaction involving his wife, Sandra Mendes. The accusations come as part of a wider investigation under the “Offside” and “Fora de Jogo” operations, which have sought to crack down on financial irregularities among high-profile Portuguese figures.

According to reports from Correio da Manha and The Times, prosecutors allege that Mendes simulated a donation of nearly half the capital of one of his companies to his wife, who held the assets in a business registered in Amsterdam. That company was then acquired by another entity linked to Mendes, which authorities believe was part of an effort to evade dividend taxes in Portugal.

The Public Prosecutor claims the maneuver caused an estimated €18 million ($20.4m) loss to the Portuguese state. Mendes, however, insists that the transaction was legitimate, fairly valued, and reported to tax authorities as far back as 2014.

What did Jorge Mendes say?

Despite agreeing to pay the full amount, Mendes has issued a firm denial of guilt through his legal team. In a statement to Portuguese media, lawyer Rui Patricio de Morais Leitao defended the agent’s character and financial history:

“We strongly refute this accusation, because there was no tax fraud. The accusation is incorrect and unfounded; and it is unfair, both in and of itself and also considering Jorge Mendes’ life story and the contributions he has made to the country.”

“It should be noted that the matter in question had already been analysed by the Tax Administration in 2014… and for many years, no issue was ever raised regarding these facts. However, this being the first time (in March 2025) that TA has concluded that the tax is due… Jorge Mendes intends to pay the amount in question.”

In other words, Mendes maintains his innocence, but is opting to pay the full sum to avoid further legal entanglement—perhaps a strategic decision, as he continues to represent some of the world’s brightest soccer talents.

Mendes’ reach still unrivaled

Though the case is not connected to his agency work, the headlines are a rare blemish on the reputation of a man whose name has become synonymous with mega deals. Mendes is best known as Cristiano Ronaldo’s former long-time agent, playing a central role in his moves to Manchester United, Real Madrid, and Juventus. He was also instrumental in the careers of Jose Mourinho, Joao Felix, Angel Di María, and many others.

Currently, Mendes represents Lamine Yamal, Barcelona’s 17-year-old prodigy and one of the most exciting young players in the world. His agency, Gestifute, also manages Alejandro Balde and Ansu Fati, maintaining deep ties to the Catalan giants.

A member of the attacking ranks at La Liga giants Barcelona has on Tuesday secured for himself a place in the record books.

The player in question? Raphinha.

Barcelona are of course currently locked in action, on the continent.

After a 3-3 stalemate in last week’s opener between the sides, the Blaugrana have made the trip to Italy, for the 2nd leg of a Champions League semi-final tie.

And an equally breathless matchup has since played out at San Siro.

The two sides are currently deadlocked at three goals apiece, once more, after Francesco Acerbi’s last-gasp equaliser sent things to extra-time.

Prior to as much, the aforementioned Raphinha looked as though he had won it for Barcelona, courtesy of a pinpoint strike into the bottom corner of the hosts’ net.

And though the Brazilian’s strike was ultimately cancelled out, he nevertheless managed to make history.

As revealed by statisticians StatMuse, Raphinha, with 21 to his name, has equalled Real Madrid icon Cristiano Ronaldo, for the most combined goals and assists in a single Champions League campaign.

Conor Laird – GSFN

In a list dominated by
one particular legend of the game, we run through the players with
the most goal involvements in a Champions
League season.

Who Has
the Most Goal Involvements in a Champions League
Season?

Cristiano Ronaldo – 21: Real Madrid,
2013-14
Raphinha – 21: Barcelona, 2024-25
Cristiano Ronaldo – 20: Real Madrid, 2015-16
Robert Lewandowski – 20: Bayern Munich,
2019-20
Lionel Messi – 19: Barcelona, 2011-12
Cristiano Ronaldo – 18: Real Madrid, 2017-18
Cristiano Ronaldo – 17: Real Madrid, 2016-17
Roberto Firmino – 17: Liverpool, 2017-18
Karim Benzema – 17: Real Madrid, 2021-22
Serhou Guirassy – 17: Borussia Dortmund,
2024-25
Raúl – 16: Real Madrid, 2002-03
Robert Lewandowski – 16: Bayern Munich,
2021-22

Cristiano Ronaldo –
21
Real Madrid, 2013-14

Cristiano Ronaldo jointly holds the record for the most goal
involvements in a single Champions League campaign. During Real
Madrid’s 2013-14 triumph, the Portuguese forward scored 17
goals and provided four assists, contributing to 21 goals
overall.

Ronaldo capped the campaign with a penalty in the final against
Atlético
Madrid, helping Los Blancos seal a 4-1 win after extra-time and
clinch their long-awaited 10th European crown.

His total of 17 goals that season remains the most by a player
in a single Champions League edition.

Raphinha –
21
Barcelona, 2024-25

A new name among the European elite. Raphinha
took his game to another level in 2024-25, becoming a key member of
a hugely impressive Barcelona
attack.

The Brazilian scored 13 goals and added eight assists in his 14
Champions League games, with his total of 21 the joint most any
player has ever managed in a season in the competition’s history.
His goal in the semi-final defeat to Inter Milan took him level
with Ronaldo at the top of the charts.

He did have the benefit of two extra group games thanks to the
Champions League’s expanded format in 2024-25, but even so, he
wasn’t quite able to knock Ronaldo fully off top spot.

None of his 21 goal involvements came from penalties, so the
Barcelona forward broke the record for the most non-penalty goal
involvements in a single UCL season.

Cristiano Ronaldo –
20
Real Madrid, 2015-16

A second entry for Ronaldo, who registered 16 goals and four
assists as Real Madrid yet again triumphed in Europe, beating
Atlético in the final (again).

Ronaldo hit three hat-tricks in 2015-16, a record tally of
trebles in a single Champions League campaign. Two of those came in
the group stage – against Shakhtar Donetsk and Malmo – and the
other came in the second leg of their quarter-finalbagainst
Wolfsburg.

The Portuguese star actually scored four against Malmo, with
those helping him to a staggering 11 goals in the group stage in
2015-16, a record for a single player in the competition.

This campaign yielded Ronaldo’s third UCL title and the second
of three straight for Madrid under Zinedine Zidane.

Robert
Lewandowski – 20
Bayern Munich,
2019-20

Robert Lewandowski came close to matching Ronaldo’s record in
2019-20, notching 15 goals and five assists in just 10 appearances
as Bayern
strolled to the Champions League title. The Bavarians won every
single game en route to lifting the trophy, making them the only
club to ever achieve that feat in European Cup history.

What makes Lewandowski’s feat even more impressive is the
condensed format that season due to the COVID-19 pandemic. From the
quarter-finals onward, ties were one-off games rather than played
over two legs, so Lewandowski had fewer games than usual to rack up
his tally.

During Bayern’s winning run, the Polish striker averaged a goal
or an assist every 44.4 minutes; that’s the best goal involvement
rate in Champions League history (min. 10+ goal involvements).

Lionel Messi –
19
Barcelona, 2011-12

Lionel Messi’s most prolific Champions League campaign came in
2011-12 when he scored 14 goals and registered five assists. It
included one of the competition’s most iconic individual
performances, as he became the first player to score five goals in
a single match – doing so in a 7-1 win over Bayer
Leverkusen.

That campaign ended in heartbreak for Barça, who were knocked
out in dramatic fashion by Chelsea in the semi-finals. Still,
Messi’s record stood unmatched at the club for over a decade –
until Raphinha’s remarkable performances in 2024-25.

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