A flying start and a decisive brace

Raphinha is unstoppable. Up front for Barcelona, the number 11 continues to drive his team forward. Thanks to his recent brace against Deportivo Alavés on matchday 11 of La Liga, the Brazilian has taken his tally to 15 goals in 11 league matches. An incredible statistic that sees him match the blistering start made by Lionel Messi during the 2012–13 season, when the Argentine had the same tally at the same stage of the competition.

Messi, Ronaldo… and now Raphinha

Reaching the 15-goal mark after 11 matchdays is no mean feat: over the last 50 years, only a handful of prodigies have achieved such a high level of scoring success in the Spanish league.

● Cristiano Ronaldo remains at the top of this symbolic ranking with a stratospheric start of 18 goals during the 2014–15 season.

● Lionel Messi reached 15 goals in the 2012–13 season.

● Raphinha has now joined them on the list with his 15 goals.

A key figure in the Blaugrana attack

Since his arrival in Catalonia, Raphinha’s development has been impressive. His nomination for the 2025 Ballon d'Or, where he finished fifth in the world, was already testament to his rise to a new level. Beyond the statistics, his impact on the Catalan side has become indispensable.

Raphinha is writing his own story

At FC Barcelona, any comparison with Lionel Messi is the ultimate tribute. Yet the Brazilian international is not seeking to emulate the Argentine legend; he is forging his own path at Camp Nou. By delivering performances of this calibre, Raphinha is proving that he now belongs among the world’s elite. If he maintains this blistering pace, the Blaugrana star is set to break more records and leave a lasting mark on the club’s history.