Raphinha leads goal contribution across Europe's top five leagues with 9
The Brazilian did not score at the Ciutat de València, but he provided two assists in FC Barcelona's 2-4 victory over Levante. With six goals and three assists in five LaLiga matchdays, Raphinha is the most productive attacking player in Europe's top five leagues. No other top scorer combines goals and assists at his current rate.
ByInfoBlaugrana
5 min read
Raphinha came close to writing another page in FC Barcelona's history books, but his performance at the Ciutat de València confirmed something just as valuable: the Brazilian is currently the most productive attacking player across Europe's top five leagues. Despite not scoring in the 2-4 win over Levante, he delivered two assists within the opening 19 minutes and produced a display that further cements his role as the team's attacking leader.
- Raphinha did not match César Rodríguez and Ibrahimovic by scoring in the first five league matchdays, but he provided two assists against Levante.
- The Brazilian has six goals and three assists in LaLiga, contributing directly to nine of Barcelona's 21 goals.
- Among the top scorers in Europe's five major leagues, no player combines goals and assists at such a high rate.
- At the Ciutat de València he created more chances than any other Barcelona player: three, while also completing three dribbles.
The scoring start only César and Ibrahimovic managed before
Only César Rodríguez, in the 1950-51 season, and Zlatan Ibrahimovic, in 2009-10, had scored in each of the first five league matchdays wearing the Barcelona shirt. Even Leo Messi, who holds the record of scoring in 19 consecutive matchdays during the 2012-13 campaign, never produced such a strong start. Raphinha arrived at the fifth round with four goals to his name and the chance to join that exclusive group.
The Brazilian could not match César Rodríguez's nine goals or the Swedish striker's six after failing to score in Valencia, but his influence on the match was immediate. In the 5th minute he assisted Xavi Espart to open the scoring, and just 14 minutes later he found Lamine Yamal to make it 0-2. Two assists in under twenty minutes illustrated the weight he currently carries in Barcelona's attack.
Two assists and an influence that goes beyond scoring
His contribution against Levante was not limited to the decisive passes. Raphinha finished the match as the Barcelona player with the most chances created, three in total, and completed three dribbles, a figure only Lamine Yamal matched among the azulgranas. He also took two shots, one of them on target, but his attacking impact is better explained by everything he generated around the box than by his attempts on goal.
Raphinha is a total attacker. The great captain.
Nine goal contributions in five LaLiga matchdays
With the double assist at the Ciutat de València, Raphinha now has six goals and three assists after the first five LaLiga matchdays. In other words, he has been directly involved in nine of the 21 goals FC Barcelona have scored in the competition. His season totals, including LaLiga and Champions League, rise to eight goals and three assists, a record that confirms his all-round importance.
No top scorer in Europe's major leagues comes close
The comparison with the rest of Europe's major competitions makes Raphinha's figures even more impressive. In the Premier League, Erling Haaland of Manchester City is the top scorer with four goals and has yet to provide an assist. In Serie A, Donyell Malen of Roma leads the scoring chart with five goals and no assists. In Ligue 1, Amine Gouiri of Olympique de Marseille has four goals without any assists, while Kamory Doumbia of Brest adds one assist to his four strikes. Lassine Sinayoko of Paris FC matches that goalscoring tally without a single assist.
In the Bundesliga, Igor Matanovic of Freiburg and Patrik Schick of Bayer Leverkusen share three goals and one assist each. None of them come close to the combination of goals and assists produced by the Brazilian winger at this stage of the season.
The attacking leader of a Barcelona side flying in LaLiga
Raphinha has featured in all five league matches, starting every one of them and accumulating 409 minutes. He was also in the starting lineup for the first Champions League fixture, where he played 71 minutes. His constant presence and his ability to deliver in decisive moments make the Brazilian the main generator of attacking football for the azulgranas during this opening stretch of the campaign.
Frequently asked questions about Raphinha's start to the season
Frequently asked questions
How many goals and assists does Raphinha have in LaLiga this season?
The Brazilian has six goals and three assists after the first five LaLiga matchdays. He has been directly involved in nine of the 21 goals scored by FC Barcelona in the competition.
What historic milestone was Raphinha chasing in the fifth matchday against Levante?
He was aiming to become the third Barcelona player to score in each of the first five league matchdays. Only César Rodríguez in 1950-51 and Zlatan Ibrahimovic in 2009-10 had previously achieved that feat.
Is Raphinha the player with the most combined goals and assists in Europe's top five leagues?
Yes. Among the top scorers in the Premier League, Serie A, Ligue 1 and Bundesliga, no player matches the goals-and-assists output Raphinha has produced at this stage of the season.