Barcelona forward Raphinha broke one of Lionel Messi’s records by scoring a perfect hat-trick during their 3-1 comeback win over Sevilla. The two sides locked horns in their LaLiga clash on Saturday, September 19.
The Blaugrana’s flawless start to the season showed no signs of stopping as they secured their seventh straight league win with an emphatic performance against Sevilla. While Youssouf Fofana opened the scoring for the hosts in the 19th minute, Raphinha slotted home three minutes later to level the scoreline.
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The Brazilian then combined well with Lamine Yamal in the second half to devastating effect. The former headed past Odysseas Vlachodimos to make it 2-1 in the 52nd minute before dinking the ball past the keeper (69′) to secure the three points for Barcelona.
Raphinha has been outstanding for the Blaugrana in his new false nine position under Hansi Flick’s management. After scoring a hat-trick against Sevilla, the 29-year-old broke Lionel Messi’s record of goals scored in the opening seven matches of a LaLiga campaign in the 21st century (h/t GOAL). He has now scored 12 goals and provided three assists in seven appearances, surpassing Messi’s tally of 11.
Raphinha also had the opportunity to match Cristiano Ronaldo‘s record of 13 goals, which was established during the 2014-15 campaign. However, Flick opted to sub him off in the 76th minute in place of Karim Adeyemi.
“He did not want Messi to return to Barcelona” – Xavi reveals who prevented Lionel Messi from making Blaugrana return in 2023
Former Barcelona manager and legend Xavi Hernandez has revealed that club president Joan Laporta prevented Lionel Messi from making a legendary return to the Blaugrana in the summer of 2023. Despite Xavi having positive discussions with Messi for four months, Laporta allegedly vetoed the transfer to avoid a potential power struggle at the club.
After 17 historic seasons at Barcelona, Lionel Messi was forced to leave the club as a free agent in 2021 due to the club’s financial woes. The Argentine ace joined PSG on a two-year deal but could have rejoined his boyhood club upon the expiry of his two-year contract.
Xavi made an appearance on The Prakhar Gupta Xperience podcast and revealed why the transfer never occurred, stating (via All Football):
“Messi is a very close friend of mine, and we were always in communication. He was very eager to return to Barcelona. And I was 100% in favor. It should have been our “last dance” at the Montjuïc Stadium, like Michael Jordan, right? We were in close communication for a full four months. However, in the end, President Laporta made the decision that he did not want to re-sign Messi, he did not want Messi to return to Barcelona.”
He added:
“That’s the truth of the matter. It was extremely strange because for those four months, we were even communicating and planning with the President. It was heartbreaking. The most painful part was for me to convey to Messi the decision that ‘the club could not complete this signing’.”
Lionel Messi ultimately opted to join MLS club Inter Miami as a free agent in the summer of 2023, where he is currently contracted until December 2028.
Edited by Silas Sud
