Raphinha outshines Mbappe in Champions League leap – for him and for Barcelona

The way Raphinha arrived at the Parc des Princes on Wednesday evening spoke volumes. A new hairstyle, sunglasses on, head held high — he was going to start and looked supremely confident.

Just a few hours later, the 27-year-old Brazilian was wrapped up on the substitutes bench, having scored two decisive goals in Barcelona’s thrilling 3-2 victory over Paris Saint-Germain in the first leg of their Champions League quarter-final.

Raphinha’s was one of several impressive performances among Xavi’s group, and with his idol Ronaldinho watching on it was incredibly timely — not just because of the great stage on which he flourished but also because of what has come before in his irregular path at Barca so far.

In 2022-23, his first season at Barcelona, Raphinha’s opportunities in his favoured right-wing spot were somewhat limited by Xavi’s preference for Ousmane Dembele — despite the Frenchman having shown interest in leaving and his attitude being criticised on many occasions.

Dembele would miss training without giving a reason, often arriving late when he did show up, but Xavi defended him to the hilt — and got the best out of him.

When Dembele suffered a thigh injury in January 2023 and it became known that he would be out for three months, the casting for replacements began. There was no shortage of competition.

Ansu Fati, who thrilled fans during his breakthrough at 16 in 2019, was no longer the same: he was badly affected by injury and short on self-confidence. Ferran Torres was another option. The former Manchester City winger had arrived for an initial €55million (£47m; $59m at current rates) the previous January — but he was far from his best, too.

Raphinha was the one who stuck. There were still examples of inconsistency, but there were plenty of great performances — including in the home leg of Barca’s Europa League tie with Manchester United. The Brazilian ended the campaign with 10 goals and 12 assists in 50 games in all competitions.

After Dembele left for PSG and Fati was loaned to Brighton last summer, everyone thought it was going to be Raphinha’s moment to progress. But Torres was impressive in pre-season — inspired by a nickname that reflected his new state of mind: ‘El Tiburon’ (The Shark) — and a 16-year-old called Lamine Yamal was beginning to show what he could really do.

Raphinha still began as Xavi’s first choice for the right wing, but in January he suffered a thigh injury that kept him out for a month. That was when Yamal began to show his qualities — and now the whole world has seen the special blend of talents (as well as his unusual maturity) that make him such an exciting player.

Beyond his exceptional skill, Yamal always passes well, is never unbalanced and tends not to make unnecessary choices. He was beginning to look like the most talented player in the squad, and while Xavi balanced his playing time at the beginning of the campaign, his influence could no longer be ignored.

The realisation came that Yamal has to be at the very centre of Barca’s project; it’s something that conditions which players might have to be sold in order to help the club’s stricken finances.

All of this meant that while fans were celebrating the emergence of a new young prodigy, there was a question mark on how Raphinha was going to fit in when he came back.

Since returning to full fitness in February, Raphinha has spent more than the odd occasion watching from the sidelines as Xavi has opted for Yamal to start in big games. He’s also featured in a new role as a central attacking midfielder rather than on the right wing and has been deployed on the left flank.

Raphinha has adapted well, and during a time of injury problems in midfield has impressed with his versatility. He’s made the left wing his own; a role where his high intensity in pressing is also appreciated.

All this led to Wednesday night: when Barcelona needed a big performance, he produced one.

At the start of the game, Raphina had a clear chance in a move that started with a great pass from Marc-Andre ter Stegen but missed it. Far from giving up, and faced with a very hostile atmosphere generated by the PSG fans, he came out on top and ended up with the player of the match award.

Raphinha’s opener came just before half-time; it was his first-ever Champions League goal. With Gianluigi Donnarumma vulnerable, he was a picture of composure as he took control of a loose ball and found the net. His second came at a time when Barca had been suffering the most.

PSG came out after the break with a new level of intensity and scored twice to take the lead. But Xavi’s players showed mental maturity to keep themselves in the game, and the manager made some changes. One of those was decisive. Pedri, making his return from injury after a month out, lofted the masterful through ball for Raphinha’s brilliantly taken volley to make it 2-2.

The team went wild, and so did the visiting supporters. Raphinha celebrated his brace with a celebration typical of Neymar — sticking his tongue out and putting both hands on either side of his head — at a place where his Brazil team-mate had faced much criticism. Raphinha’s old rival for a starting spot, Dembele, got PSG’s opener, but the Barca winger had replied with two goals of his own — the same number as his former team-mate has scored all season for his new club.

In the 76th minute, Raphinha left the pitch, having led the way in what became an unexpected victory. Andreas Christensen’s header put Barca 3-2 ahead just moments later.

Everything is still to play for in the second leg on Tuesday in Barcelona. But the Catalans were underdogs against PSG and Raphinha’s performance was key in taking a step towards better times in the Champions League after years of painful disappointment.

Raphinha has not had a regular season at Barcelona and his path has not been easy. But he has shown willingness and adaptability to fit into the team in any position, and such a mix makes you wonder if it is a risk for the club to sell him.

“He’s a different kind of player — different in terms of his potential,” Xavi said in his post-match press conference.

“He’s one of the best players in the world in space. He’s a goalscorer, he gives us dynamism, he throws off pressure, he’s intense. He has a lot of virtues and his main virtue is looking for the team. I’m very happy for him, he deserves it. (I’m) very proud.”

It felt like this Barca had come of age on one of the most difficult stages, coming to terms with a new identity. The curious thing was that their impressive maturity came with two teenagers on the pitch (Yamal and Pau Cubarsi) who seemed entirely unfazed by the challenge in front of them.

And on a night when so much of the spotlight was focused on Kylian Mbappe, it was Raphinha who shone instead.

The summer transfer window is going to be complicated for Barcelona and the club will have to sell players. Who knows what will happen to Raphinha but, at least, as Humphrey Bogart’s character Rick Blaine says in Casablanca, he “will always have Paris”.

(Top photo: Franck Fife/AFP via Getty Images)