Raphinha Talks About How He Talked Yamal Through a Quiet Patch

Raphinha scored twice as Barcelona drew Feyenoord 5-1 at Spotify Camp Nou on Wednesday, opening their Champions League campaign in fine style and extending their own scoring streak to five matches. His first goal was a thing of beauty, while the second was a lightning-quick combination with Pedri.

Speaking to Mundo Deportivo after the match, Raphinha said the team had to play close to their best in front of their own supporters and felt they had controlled the game from the start. He also said that starting the season this way gives the squad confidence but also warned that a long season means ups and downs and they want to continue to be a consistent team. “A season has many ups and downs,” he said.

One of the more interesting parts of his interview touched on Lamine Yamal, who also contributed a goal to the win. Raphinha said that he knows Yamal well enough to know he starts to fade out of games when things are not going his way, and said he made a point to encourage him during the match, telling him a goal was coming. He said he was glad to see that happen, adding that Yamal probably needed it and that what matters in such moments is one teammate being happy for another.

Asked about missing out on this year’s Ballon d’Or shortlist, Raphinha refused to dwell on it, saying he is focusing on Barcelona rather than individual awards, and the team is enjoying a good season so far.

In this context, it seems like Raphinha’s absence from the shortlist is a slight. He is unlikely to win the award this year, but performances such as Wednesday’s suggest he intends to keep arguing the point.