Raphinha is the top scorer and top assister of the UEFA Champions League, and the betting favorite for the Ballon d’Or. He recently tied Lionel Messi’s personal best single season G/A total in the Champions League. Sure, he “stole” one of the goals from Pau Cubarsí by unnecessarily poking the ball in when it was almost already in. But for the most part, his goals and assists have come at crucial moments due to his ability and sacrifice.
What’s interesting about Raphinha, however, is he’s not like Messi, and he’s not like Robert Lewandowski or Cristiano Ronaldo, either, or any player who has put up this kind of single-season stats in the Champions League.