Raphinha Silences Ballon d'Or Speculation After Scoring Twice in Barcelona's Champions League Opener

Raphinha Stars as Barcelona Kicks Off Champions League with a Win

Raphinha returned to his best form, leading Barcelona to victory in their Champions League opener by scoring two goals while playing as a makeshift centre-forward. The Brazilian captain praised the team’s overall performance and shared encouraging words for young teammate Lamine Yamal. He also firmly declined to discuss why he wasn’t included on the Ballon d’Or shortlist.

Double Impact from Raphinha

Operating in an unusual centre-forward role, Raphinha dazzled the home crowd with two well-timed strikes. His first goal saw him cleverly evade two defenders before finishing with precision. The second came from a perfectly timed run that was set up by Pedri. This brace brought Raphinha’s tally to eight goals in just five matches this season, highlighting his striking prowess early on.

Demanding Excellence at Camp Nou

After the match, Raphinha spoke about the high standards expected when playing in front of Barcelona’s passionate supporters. He expressed contentment with how the team controlled the game from start to finish but stressed the importance of maintaining this level throughout the entire campaign.

“Playing in front of our fans, we have to play almost perfect football,” said Raphinha. “We’ve been very good from the start, controlling the game. Starting like this gives us a lot of confidence.”

Supporting the Next Generation: Lamine Yamal

Raphinha revealed how he motivated youngster Lamine Yamal during tough moments in the match. Noticing Lamine losing focus, the captain offered reassurance and support, which seemed to help the teenager find his composure and score from a free-kick later on. Their celebration showed a strong bond and leadership within the squad.

“I know when he’s losing focus because things aren’t going his way,” explained Raphinha. “I was trying to encourage him. I’m very happy he scored, I’m sure he needed that goal.”

Shutting Down Ballon d'Or Talk

When asked about missing out on the Ballon d’Or shortlist, Raphinha smiled but quickly turned the conversation back to the team’s performance. He avoided any personal commentary and emphasized the collective effort of Barcelona this season.

“I don’t talk about that, I talk about Barcelona,” Raphinha stated. “We’re having a spectacular season.”

• Date: 10 September 2026
• Competition: UEFA Champions League
• Team: Barcelona
• Player Highlight: Raphinha – 2 goals
• Teammate Mentioned: Lamine Yamal