Barcelona captain Raphinha has matched a remarkable LaLiga scoring record previously achieved by club legend Lionel Messi after helping his side secure a 5-0 victory over Valencia.
The Brazilian forward scored Barcelona’s third goal in the 50th minute at the Mestalla on Sunday, taking his tally to six LaLiga goals after four matches this season. The achievement puts Raphinha in an exclusive category previously reached by Messi.
Raphinha is now only the second player in the 21st century to score at least six goals across his first four LaLiga appearances of a season. Messi accomplished the feat in two consecutive campaigns, 2012/13 and 2013/14.
The milestone underlines Raphinha’s impressive start to the 2026/27 campaign. He has quickly established himself as one of Barcelona’s leading attacking threats, particularly after being deployed in a more central role under manager Hansi Flick.
Barcelona had already highlighted Raphinha’s strong opening to the season before the Valencia match. The club noted that he scored in each of the first three league games, becoming the first Barcelona player to achieve that feat since Messi in the 2020/21 season.
Raphinha’s latest performance also helped Barcelona maintain their perfect start to the league campaign. His goalscoring form has become increasingly important following the departure of veteran striker Robert Lewandowski and amid changes to the club’s attacking options.
The development is significant because Raphinha is increasingly being compared with some of Barcelona’s greatest attacking players. However, matching one of Messi’s statistical achievements does not yet place the Brazilian alongside the Argentine’s overall legacy at the club.
