Say what you want about Leeds United’s struggles and inconsistencies this season, but their main man and Brazilian wing-wizard Raphinha is continuing to fire on all cylinders.

Jack Harrison may have walked off the London Stadium with the match-ball after his first career hat-trick in Leeds’ impressive 3-2 away triumph at West Ham United, but it was Raphinha who stole the show in East London.

The 25-year-old former Stade Rennais man quite simply put in a show-stopping performance, dampening West Ham and David Moyes’ strong pursuit of Champions League football. It was indeed an attacking masterclass. Raphinha only finished the encounter with one assist, but that doesn’t quantify the standard and quality of his mesmerizing performance.

The Brazilian international had a second assist chalked off due to an extremely marginal offside call and also saw a stunning free-kick crash off the woodwork. Jack Harrison may have given Leeds the cutting edge in front of goal, scoring all three for the visitors, but it was Raphinha who gave David Moyes’ men a torrid nightmare from that right-flank.

No player on the pitch created more chances than the Brazilian forward (seven) – the highest number of chances created by a Leeds United player in a single Premier League match since they were promoted – and he also formed seven key passes. For context, Leeds’ second-most prolific key pass-maker was Adam Forshaw with just two.

Raphinha is making quite a habit of knocking opponents for six with his wing wizardry and sumptuous levels of creativity. In fact, Only Mohamed Salah has recorded more shots and key passes combined (121) than Raphinha (93) in the Premier League this season. Every time the Brazilian is on the ball in the attacking third, for Leeds, something is bound to happen and that was certainly the case against West Ham United on Sunday.

His through-ball for Jack Harrison’s hat-trick was simply astonishing, the vision, the perfectly weighted execution of pass right on the money for Harrison to bury was a true sight to behold.

It is now 10 goal involvements for Raphinha so far this season (8 goals and 2 assists). So out of Leeds United’s 24 goals in the Premier League so far, the Brazilian has been involved in just under a half of their goals.

Raphinha is recording quite incredible numbers of Leeds United this season. Looking at the Brazilian’s His expected assists xA total per90 minutes – measuring the expected goals value of the shot that is assisted – of 0.28 pits him in the top 10% of attacking midfielders/wingers in Europe’s top-five leagues highlighting his incredible consistency in becoming Leeds United’s main source of creativity.

The Brazilian ranks first amongst his club peers for shots (3.12), key passes (2.12), successful dribbles (2.18), progressive passes (5.41) and final third passes per 90 minutes (2.88) meaning Leeds United aren’t quite the dangerous and potent force without him, and that’s of no surprise at all considering the 25-year-old’s creative genius.

There’s no doubt about it, 2022 is a massive year for Raphinha.

Twelve months from now he could be a World Cup winner looking to add a Champions League crown with one of Europe’s most prestigious clubs – if reports are to be believed. He is enjoying the best season of his career to date and looks sure to feature in Brazil’s World Cup campaign in December –don’t be surprised to even see him start start for the Selecao in Qatar.

Alongside Vinicius Jr, he is Brazil’s best performing attacker right now

While boasting such a world-class talent is something for Leeds to be certainly proud about, it also marks an inconvenient truth for a club that knows all too well the pain of being somewhere in the middle of football’s cut-throat food chain.

Almost 20 years ago, if some can remember, their record signing and club captain Rio Ferdinand departed for rivals Manchester United, while their 16-year spell out of the Premier League was marked by seeing their best and brightest go on to bigger and better things.

The fans at Elland Road have become so accustomed to waving goodbye to their heroes, that seeing Raphinha shine so regularly comes with a glum sense of inevitability – he may well be the latest of those decorated departed darlings.

This is without a shadow of a doubt, a Champions League level footballer. Raphinha should and will be one of those players blossoming under the lights on a Tuesday and Wednesday night in Europe’s flagship club competition. The Brazilian is tailor-made for it. The Champions League theme tune is a blissful representation of the sort of qualities Raphinha possesses – it’s only right.

So how can Leeds expect to keep him when they’re slumming it near the foot of the table?

Club chairman Andrea Radrizzani has spoken of ambitions of European football, while a stadium expansion and full takeover by the San Francisco 49ers appears imminent. But those lofty ambitions may be a long while yet, and Raphinha can’t afford to wait that long.

It is incredibly likely that the Brazilian magician will be slumming it amongst Europe’s elite by the time the new season comes knocking on our television screens again. Yet noises out of Elland Road currently suggest that Leeds will fight tooth and nail to keep their star asset, or at least protect his value as much as possible.

“It’s a great decision,” Marcelo Bielsa said in his pre-match press conference ahead of the weekend’s game against West Ham, when asked about reports that the club are currently working on extending the Brazilian’s contract, which expires in 2024.

“Raphinha’s the best player in the team in all the senses. Physically he’s the best, technically he’s at the level of the best and his interpretation of the game is very wise.

“He’s within the group of such a powerful nation as Brazil, he shines in the Premier League and he has the attention of all the big clubs in the world.

“All of those things are something you guys know as well. Nothing I’m saying is new. As a result, the decision of the club can only be valued.”

It’s strong words from Bielsa that are indicative of where the club and player are at.

The 25-year-old enjoyed a brilliant debut season in Yorkshire, but he was one of several players that shone in a collective context for a newly-promoted club that punched above their weight to finish in an unprecedented ninth place in the league table.

Stuart Dallas was named Player of the Season, Patrick Bamford finished top scorer with 17 Premier League goals, Kalvin Phillips ended his first top-flight campaign by starring for England as they made their first major final in over 50 years, while Jack Harrison ended up with more goals and assists in the Premier League than any other English midfielder.

This season, however, Leeds have struggled with consistency in results, been ravaged with injuries and absences to key players such as Patrick Bamford and Kalvin Phillips with the club now flirting with the drop zone, despite currently climbing nine points above it with their win at West Ham.

While Leeds’ form has curtailed this campaign, Raphinha’s performances have continued on a steady ascent, culminating in his explosion onto the international scene for Brazil in October 2021. Raphinha was directly involved in four goals (two goals, two assists) in 145 minutes of play for Tite’s side, including a brace against South American rivals Uruguay in his first start for the national team.

Bielsa calling Raphinha Leeds’ best player was the plain and simple truth, which was reinforced early on in Sunday’s clash at West Ham, with a graphic appearing on Sky Sports flashing up during the match that showed the Brazilian ranking first in basically every attacking metric for Leeds this season – goals, shots, chances created, key passes, passes into the penalty area… indeed, the stats do not lie.

A tricky Brazilian winger who makes his way onto highlight reels with nutmegs and long-distance strikes is a social media manager’s delight especially those in Leeds United’s eventful social media staff, and it’s what makes Raphinha one of the most ‘fun’ and ‘entertaining’ players to watch outside of the top-flight’s established forces. What is both a boon and a curse for the future of the club, however, is that Raphinha is not just spectacle – he’s already playing as if he’s among the elite.

Blessed with unerring trickery, speed, acceleration, vision and a wand of a left-foot, the Brazilian is every top manager’s dream, but also the archetypal representation of a modern-day winger.

While he’s become devastatingly effective on the ball with his mazy runs into the opposition penalty area, coupled with his silky footwork and ball-control, he’s become quite simply a demon without it.

He is averaging more sprints per 90 minutes played than any other player in the Premier League this season (29.6), and by quite a margin to any other winger. At the same time, he leads the league in runs into the final third per 90 that are targeted with passes from a teammate.

While he’s a gifted creator against defensive units that are designed to be broken down, his physical attributes and willingness to run without the ball make him an ideal weapon for transitioning from defence to attack, as well as attacking after recovering the ball through pressing, a facet of Bielsa’s philosophy at Elland Road.

Raphinha is the man Leeds look to when trying to break down the opposition, or to finish off attacking moves whether through that telling final pass or the goalscoring prowess. It’s like the Brazilian is afforded much more freedom tactically than say Jack Harrison, or Dan James simply because of his unerring consistency to create goalscoring opportunities.

In carrying out his duties as the primary spark of this unpredictable Leeds United team, Raphinha’s time at the club so far has also simultaneously been a demonstration of the talents that are heavily desired by the clubs at the top of the European football food chain.

If he does move on this summer, which clubs would be strongly pursuing his services: Liverpool? With Mane, and Salah’s immediate futures uncertain, capturing Raphinha could well be a welcome distraction and the perfect moving-on signing for the Anfield faithful. How about Manchester United? With Cavani, Lingard, Martial set to move on this summer, they could well do with a sumptuous quality in the wide areas, Raphinha would be perfect for them. What about Manchester City? Fresh from losing Ferran Torres in January, they could well do with another direct and gifted right-winger with Riyad Mahrez not getting any younger. Bayern Munich and Chelsea are other names on the illustrious list currently scouring for the Brazilian’s services.

Put simply, there just aren’t many wingers of Raphinha’s age that have the aforementioned attributes and levels of performance in stats – and have shown them over an extended period – who haven’t yet been plucked by Champions League-level clubs.

As things stand, the inevitable may arise this summer with this unique and peerless talents departing Elland Road for much bigger pastures, but for now its incredibly vital that the Leeds United faithful appreciate and enjoy Raphinha’s remarkable gifts while they can.

Talents like his don’t come around very often, especially at Elland Road.

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