Raphinha Scores Twice in Barcelona’s Champions League Opener, Dismisses Ballon d'Or Talk

Raphinha Impresses as Barcelona Begin Champions League Campaign

Raphinha put on a brilliant show in Barcelona's opening match of the Champions League, scoring two goals while playing as a makeshift centre-forward. The Brazilian captain praised the team's overall performance and offered encouragement to young star Lamine Yamal, but firmly shut down questions about his absence from the Ballon d'Or shortlist.

Double Strike from the Captain

Taking up an unusual role up front, Raphinha looked electric, firing in a brace that helped secure a commanding home victory. His first goal saw him leave two defenders behind with a sharp cutback before finishing clinically. The second came from a perfectly timed run, assisted by Pedri. With these two goals, Raphinha has now scored eight times in just five games this season.

Demanding Excellence at Camp Nou

After the game, the 29-year-old stressed the high standards needed when playing for Barcelona in front of their passionate supporters. He was pleased with how the team controlled the tempo early on and said that consistency will be key across the season.

"Playing for our fans means 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."

Supporting Teammates: A Pep Talk for Lamine Yamal

Beyond his goal-scoring, Raphinha showed leadership off the pitch by motivating Lamine Yamal before the teenager netted a free-kick. Noticing that Yamal was losing focus at times, Raphinha stepped in with encouraging words and celebrated warmly when Yamal found the net.

"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."

Dismisses Ballon d'Or Questions

Despite his impressive form, Raphinha quickly put aside any talk regarding his omission from the Ballon d'Or list, choosing instead to highlight the team's collective efforts.

"I don't talk about that, I talk about Barcelona," he said. "We're having a spectacular season."

• Match: Barcelona vs Levante
• Date: 13 Sept 2026
• Competition: Champions League
• Raphinha's Goals This Season: 8 goals in 5 matches