According to a report by Barca Universal on Monday October 26, 2026, Barcelona captain Raphinha has matched Lionel Messi’s remarkable goalscoring record after netting 13 times in his first nine La Liga appearances of the 2026-27 season.

The Brazilian reached the milestone with his equaliser against Real Madrid on Sunday, joining the Argentine legend among the competition’s most prolific starters. His impressive form offers Barcelona a significant positive despite their recent consecutive defeats to Paris Saint-Germain and Real Madrid.

Raphinha has also provided three assists, taking his total goal contributions to 16 across his opening nine league matches. Messi previously scored 13 goals in his first nine appearances during the 2012-13 campaign.

Only Cristiano Ronaldo managed a superior return during the same period in the 21st century. The Portuguese forward scored 17 goals in his opening nine La Liga matches in the 2014-15 season.

Raphinha currently leads the league’s goalscoring charts with 13 strikes. Real Madrid forward Kylian Mbappe sits second with 11 goals, while Barcelona teammate Lamine Yamal has registered eight.

The Brazilian found the net in the 61st minute of Sunday’s El Clasico, restoring parity after Barcelona had fallen behind. However, Mbappe’s late winner condemned the Catalans to another disappointing result.

The goal was particularly significant for Raphinha after his recent absence through injury. His continued effectiveness against Real Madrid under Hansi Flick has further demonstrated his importance to the team.

Flick’s decision to deploy Raphinha as a central striker has also proved successful. Barcelona struggled to find an adequate replacement following Robert Lewandowski’s departure, prompting the manager to explore alternative attacking options.

Rather than relying on a traditional number nine, Flick has utilised Raphinha’s intelligent movement, ability to exploit spaces and involvement in attacking combinations.

Although maintaining his current scoring rate will be challenging, the Brazilian’s versatility gives Barcelona another tactical option. His performances could prove crucial as the Catalans attempt to recover from their disappointing week and return to winning ways.