They say every child in Brazil plays football. Every man in Brazil lives football. The most common gift for a male child after its birth – a football ball or a football jersey. Still, sometimes it’s neither, especially if you live in a place where football is the only way out… Especially if you live in a favela.There are many who succeeded, one could say, but there are even more of those who failed, and that’s why each of those who managed to use an ace up his sleeve and change the cards life gave him deserves immense respect. Raphinha’s story is no different. He began his life in a favela called Restinga, surrounded by everything it brings and faces with extreme poverty.Jules ‘The Latecomer’ Kounde severely tests Flick’s patienceHis father and uncle knew Ronaldinho and introduced then-seven-year-old Raphael Dias Belloli to the Brazilian legend. Who would have thought that 20 years later, that little boy would occasionally wear his idol and friend’s boots, only to show that all those who underestimated him throughout his entire career couldn’t have been more wrong?So when are we going to start pushing Raphinha for the ballon d’or? pic.twitter.com/j4woAt9Kvy— Anabella💙❤ (@AnabellaMarvy) November 25, 2024 When Barcelona brought him from Leeds United in July 2022 and splashed out £50 million, many were stunned. Why him? they wondered until Raphinha started proving why. Already in his first season, he recorded a “double-double” – ten goals and 12 assists. Last season, he was at a similar level, with as many goals and one key pass more. However, under Hansi Flick, the Brazilian exploded.After only 19 games played, Raphinha already has 13 goals and ten assists next to his name, and God knows what his numbers will be in May when the season ends. He’s currently the second-best scorer in both La Liga and the Champions League, sitting behind his teammate Robert Lewandowski in both competitions. However, Raphinha is more ruthless as his five UCL attempts on target all found their mark!Raphinha has scored FIVE Champions League goals from FIVE shots on target so far this season 😮💨🇧🇷 pic.twitter.com/roMzXla2Lv— OneFootball (@OneFootball) November 26, 2024 In the absence of Marc-Andre ter Stegen, Ronald Araujo, and Frenkie de Jong, he became Barca’s captain. Even that decision was frowned upon by many, but the 27-year-old proved to be the leader of this team. Yes, he’d never be as good as Ronaldinho, and his influence on football in the capital of Catalonia and football altogether would never be as strong. But the seven-year-old child in Raphinha is living his dream at the very same place where the beloved #10 created his magic, and nobody can take that away.UEFA CHAMPIONS LEAGUE ROUND 5TuesdaySlovan B – Milan 2-3 (1-1)/Barseghyan 24, Marcelli 88 – Pulisic 21, Leao 68, Abraham 70/Sparta P – Atletico Madrid 0-6 (0-2)/Alvarez 15, 59, Llorente 43, Griezman 70, Correa 85, 89/Barcelona – Brest 3-0 (1-0)/Lewandowski 10 pen, 90+2, Olmo 66/Bayern – PSG 1-0 (1-0)/Kim 38/Inter – RB Leipzig 1-0 (1-0)/Lukeba 27 og/Leverkusen – Salzburg 5-0 (3-0)/Wirtz 8 pen, 30, Grimaldo 11, Schick 61, Garcia 72/Man.City – Feyenoord 3-3 (1-0)/Haaland 44 pen, 53, Gundogan 50 – Hadj Moussa 75, Gimenez 82, Hancko 89/Sporting – Arsenal 1-5 (0-3)/Inacio 47 – Martinelli 7, Havertz 22, Gabriel 45+1, Saka 65 pen, Trossard 82/Young Boys – Atalanta 1-6 (1-4)/Ganvoula 11 – Retegui 9, 39, De Ketelaere 28, 56, Kolasinac 32, Samardzic 90+1/Wednesday19:45: (4.80) Crvena Zvezda (4.10) Stuttgart (1.75)19:45: (3.70) Sturm (3.50) Girona (2.00)23:00: (2.45) Aston Villa (3.40) Juventus (3.10)23:00: (2.45) Bologna (3.35) Lille (3.15)23:00: (2.05) Celtic (3.50) Club Brugge (3.60)23:00: (4.80) Dinamo Zagreb (3.70) Dortmund (1.73)23:00: (1.90) Liverpool (3.95) Real Madrid (4.00)23:00: (2.30) Monaco (3.50) Benfica (3.25)23:00: (1.42) PSV (4.60) Shakhtar (7.50)***odds are subject to change***
