Robert Lewandowski Breaks Champions League Record as Raphinha Matches Messi’s Feat
Robert Lewandowski made history in the Champions League, scoring twice against his former team, Borussia Dortmund, to help Barcelona take a commanding 4-0 lead in their quarter-final first leg. The Polish striker’s goals in the 48th and 66th minutes brought his total for the season to 40, as he continues to shine in his third year with the Spanish giants.
In a remarkable achievement, Lewandowski became the first player in Champions League history to score at least ten goals in a single season for three different clubs.
His impressive record includes ten goals for Borussia Dortmund in 2012/13, double digits for Bayern Munich in 2019/20 and 2021/22, and now, a third season with Barcelona hitting the same milestone. This sets him apart from even Cristiano Ronaldo, who only achieved this feat during his time at Real Madrid, not across multiple clubs.
Lewandowski has also extended his dominance over Borussia Dortmund, scoring more goals against them than any other team, with 29 goals in 28 appearances against his former club.
Teammate Raphinha also made his mark, contributing a goal and two assists in the match. His performance brought his total to 19 goal involvements in the Champions League this season, with 12 goals and seven assists.
Raphinha’s achievement tied Lionel Messi’s 2011/12 record for the most goal involvements in a single Champions League season for Barcelona. He now aims to take the record for himself as Barcelona looks set to advance to the semi-finals.
