Raphinha’s Bold Message After Barcelona’s Victory Over Benfica

Following a dominant 3-1 victory against Benfica in the UEFA Champions League Round of 16, FC Barcelona star Raphinha delivered a bold six-word message to his season rivals.

Barcelona’s victory has propelled them into the quarterfinals of the tournament. After the match, Raphinha made his ambitions clear in an interview with Movistar Plus+: “We are contenders to win everything.” This statement underscores the team’s determination as they continue to compete on multiple fronts, including La Liga and the Copa del Rey.

As one of Barcelona’s key players in the ongoing 2024-25 season, Raphinha has consistently showcased his skills, contributing with crucial goals and assists. Currently sitting atop La Liga, Barcelona also secured the Spanish Super Cup in January with a win over Real Madrid.

Raphinha analyzed Barcelona’s commanding performance against Benfica: “We knew that Benfica would come at us strong, and we understood what we needed to do to win the match. We were focused on that. In the end, we had the result in our favor, and I think we played a great first half.”

Barcelona head coach Hansi Flick has even endorsed Raphinha as a Ballon d’Or contender, highlighting his pivotal role in the team’s success. With an impressive tally of 27 goals and 19 assists in 41 games this season, Raphinha has been integral to Barcelona’s pursuit of multiple trophies.

Raphinha’s Impressive Record Against Benfica

Barcelona and Benfica have clashed three times in the 2024-25 Champions League, including one league phase match and two knockout stage encounters. In all of these matches, Raphinha has been the standout player, earning MVP honors each time.

During the league phase, Barcelona triumphed over Benfica 5-4 in dramatic stoppage time, with Raphinha scoring twice, including the decisive goal. In the Round of 16 first leg, he notched the game’s only goal, leading to a 1-0 victory. Most recently, he excelled again, scoring a brace and assisting Lamine Yamal, bringing his total against Benfica to five goals and one assist in three games.

Despite his individual achievements, Raphinha emphasizes teamwork: “For me, the most important thing is what we achieve as a team, and I’m quite happy with this victory.”