Watching Raphinha in the Champions League semi-final with Leeds supporters

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As the clock ticked into the 87th minute, there was Raphinha popping up when it mattered for Barcelona.

The Brazilian had just scored the third goal of the visitors’ masterful comeback from 2-0 down. It was the winner, surely? Raphinha, Leeds United’s long-lost idol, was a hero once again.

The Athletic is in Leeds city centre on a chilly Tuesday night to watch the second leg of Barcelona’s Champions League semi-final against Inter. More specifically, we are looking to share the latest chapter of Raphinha’s magical rise with those who cheered him in white, from the winning goals to sitting in the away dugout at Crawley Town.

But Inter, in one of the finest Champions League semi-finals on record, denied us the fairytale ending and perhaps even Raphinha the Ballon d’Or.

We get our first sight and mention of the forward in the 12th minute. Prime Video’s commentator Jon Champion, speaking to his UK audience, mentions Leeds immediately, along with his extraordinary haul of 30 goals and 22 assists in all competitions this season for Barcelona.

Co-commentator Alan Shearer asks Champion, and the watching audience, if they could have foreseen the Raphinha at Leeds hitting his current heights. The commentary duo agree not. Once the dust had settled on the night’s events, that point was put to Gareth Oakes, a 52-year-old Leeds fan watching on.

“I suppose it’s hard to say he looked like he was at this level when he was with us, but he was still brilliant,” he said. “He’s not had too many big moments tonight other than the goal, but what else does he need?

“He’s in the right place at the right time with the shot and then the follow-up. He didn’t bottle it.”

Raphinha gives Barcelona a short-lived lead on the night (Carl Recine/Getty Images)

Before that goal, which we will come to, it hadn’t proved a memorable night for Barcelona’s No 11. There was a pirouette and backheel flick in the 38th minute, which did not lead to much, and a 67th-minute dribble inside off the left flank that only saw him get dispossessed.

When the moment comes, however, Raphinha is a predator. He takes in Pedri’s pass with his left boot, pushing the ball into his path for a shot. Matteo Darmian is stretching to block the shot. He fails. Yann Sommer can only parry it back into the winger’s launchpad, and his right-foot swing puts the ball unerringly into the far bottom corner.

(Beren Cross/The Athletic)

Ashley Thatcher, 24, another watching Leeds fan, said: “It’s unbelievable, isn’t it? I can’t believe we’re watching him play like this with Barcelona.

“He was amazing for us, but it’s so good to see what he’s doing now in the biggest competition. The fact he’s scored again tonight just says it all.

“It’s a shame they’ve gone out because I guess that means he won’t get the Ballon d’Or now. He’s such a big player in those moments. He was for Leeds and now he’s doing it for one of the biggest clubs in the world.”

The Ballon d’Or debate is another topic entirely. Some think a player’s team needs to win a major trophy for them to win the highest individual honour in the sport. The fact that a former Leeds player is even in the conversation speaks volumes for the rise Raphinha has experienced since leaving Elland Road in 2022.

He had two seasons with Leeds. The first was the 2020-21 run to ninth in the Premier League under Marcelo Bielsa, played behind closed doors almost in its entirety. The second saw Bielsa’s sacking and the eventual survival from the drop under Jesse Marsch.

Raphinha in FA Cup action at Crawley, very much not San Siro, in 2021 (Mike Hewitt/Getty Images)

Raphinha’s part in that final day escape at Brentford will never be forgotten. He won and converted a penalty in the 2-1 win before walking the length of the pitch on his knees. It was his way of thanking God for his part in keeping Leeds up.

“Brentford was special, the day he kept us up,” said Ashley. “That was a rubbish team, but he dragged us through with his goals. There was the penalty, winning the penalty, that day. Then the crawl down the pitch and celebrating with the away end.

“They are memories no Leeds fan will ever forget. His all-round play was just ace. There was that flick when he got around (Gary) Cahill (against Crystal Palace) at Elland Road. He’s the best player I’ve ever seen in the flesh for Leeds.”

That spin around Cahill in February 2021 is likely to be a clip you have already seen. With his back to the veteran defender, he backheeled the ball through Cahill’s legs before running around him to collect it. That was Cahill’s last year in the top flight.

🎨 An artist at work! pic.twitter.com/M8feKP6Bo4

— Leeds United (C) (@LUFC) February 9, 2021

On Tuesday night, as Barcelona were frantically chasing the game in extra time, we saw more familiar nods to Raphinha’s past. In the 98th minute, he was spotted berating a team-mate for a poor pass, which pushed him into an offside position.

These high standards and holding colleagues to account were a feature of his time at Elland Road.

In the 114th minute in Milan, there was a needle-threading pass into Lamine Yamal, which was not turned into anything, before a 119th-minute corner which Sommer had to tip over his bar. Dead-ball situations were a speciality at Leeds too.

Raphinha in with the Leeds fans at Brentford in May 2022 (Alex Davidson/Getty Images)

“What a player,” said Gareth. “It was a privilege to have him at Leeds when we did. For those two years, it was a joy to have him. It wasn’t just the flicks and tricks; it was the fight in him. He kind of knew what it was to be Leeds.

“I always remember the free kick against Southampton, when he showed that message to Ronaldinho under his shirt. He just seemed to be finding another level at that point.

“He was just somebody we could all have faith in. He wasn’t bogged down by nerves or anything. He just always seemed to deliver when the pressure was on.”

He may play his games 875 miles away from Elland Road these days, but Raphinha will always have a home in West Yorkshire. Fans here do not forget their heroes lightly.

(Header photo: Carl Recine/Getty Images)

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