Raphinha has enjoyed a sensational start to the 2026–27 campaign, transforming Barcelona’s attacking line with a series of masterclass performances. The Brazilian forward proved pivotal on Saturday night, orchestrating a dramatic comeback against Sevilla after Barcelona fell behind early in the match. Netting a stunning treble, Raphinha took total control of the fixture to secure a memorable victory. His latest performance brings his tally to an astonishing 12 goals in the opening seven matches of the La Liga season.
Data provided by the Spanish football statistician MisterChip highlights the sheer rarity of this feat. Across the entire history of La Liga, only seven players have ever managed to score 12 or more goals within the first seven matches of a campaign. In modern times, achieving such prolific numbers at the start of a season has been virtually unheard of.
Cristiano Ronaldo managed a similar feat during the 2014–15 season for Real Madrid, scoring 13 goals in his first seven league appearances before finishing the campaign with 48 goals in 35 matches. However, the all-time record remains with Real Oviedo legend Esteban Echevarría, who scored 14 goals in the first seven games of the 1943–44 season. Three years after Ronaldo’s explosive start, Lionel Messi managed 11 goals in his first seven matches for Barcelona—a figure Raphinha has now officially surpassed.
Raphinha’s performance against Sevilla was a masterclass in tactical versatility. His opening goal arrived via his right foot after he latched onto a defense-splitting pass from Andreas Christensen, neatly turning a defender before slotting the ball home. Early in the second half, he put Barcelona ahead by guiding a header into the net from a Lamine Yamal cross. In the 69th minute, Yamal turned provider once more, releasing Raphinha one-on-one with the goalkeeper to complete a delicate left-footed chip.
Scoring with his right foot, head, and left foot completed what is universally celebrated as a “perfect hat-trick.” Achieving this highlights the scale of the Brazilian’s performance. Despite spending 17 illustrious years at Barcelona and breaking nearly every record in existence, Lionel Messi never registered a perfect hat-trick for the Catalan club. Raphinha has now etched his name into the club’s history books by accomplishing what eluded the Argentine icon.
Under the guidance of manager Hansi Flick, Raphinha has thrived in a central “false nine” role this season. Moving inward from his traditional wide position has revitalised his game, yielding 12 goals and three assists in just seven matches. This blistering form follows a frustrating, injury-plagued prior season that saw him miss the World Cup and miss out on the 2026 Ballon d’Or shortlist. Driven by a desire to re-establish his standing among Europe’s elite, the winger-turned-striker is delivering a resounding response on the pitch.
