Rafinha is a rare breed: the wing that defends and places monster numbers star-news.press/wp

Raphinha is the supreme scorer of UEFA and the highest Champions LeagueAnd the ball d’or. Recently Lionel Messi’s single season g / total champions in the Lion. For sure, “steal” when the goal of the Cubarsí, almost already had the ball. But most of the time, its goals and bushes have come for his ability and sacrifice.

What is interesting about Raphinha, however, is not like Messi, and is not like Robert Lewandowski or Cristiano Ronaldo, or any player who has placed a single-season statistics in the Champions League.

Raphinha is not waiting for the opportunity to win the most wide majority of the time, or waiting for the wing that remains in advanced positions, cut the ball and shoot again and again. Raphinha really defends a pretty little one. Against Borussia DortmundHe covered the third distance from Barcelona player. This is not common, Brazilian is usually one of the players who walk the most for the team.

Objectives, assistance, dribbling, opportunity to create and running is a little unique in the world football. Returning to the head, it is difficult to remember the last player who combined all this. Probably the closest is Pedro Rodríguez, which was part of the famous 2011 version of Barcelona. Many believe that many is the best assembled team. But Pedro was never the scorer of the Champions League.

Raphinha also has a knack for great games. In 28 games in La League, Raphinha has 13 goals and 8 attendance. But in the 11-go and 7 care games in the League of Tournament. Almost every moment, Raphinha has delivered. He scored a single goal in Barcelona, ​​among 10 men, won Benfica 1-0 in the Champions League. He entered two goals and had support Real Madrid In the Spanish Supercup finals, he got a hat-trick Bayern MunichAnd he scored against Madrid in the League.

Whether Raphinha is passing a purple patch, it has a madness of the clutch gene, or it simply evolved beyond those who were their limits, soon. But it would be wrong to give his debt. In large games and on the champions league nights, it has been the best player in the world so far.