da cassino： One of the best players in the world over the last year has certainly been former Leeds United winger Raphinha.

da 888： Over the last couple of seasons in a Barcelona shirt, the Brazilian has 69 goals and assists for the La Liga giants, forming a largely unstoppable wing pairing with Lamine Yamal.

That sort of form earned the Blaugrana winger fifth place in the Ballon d’Or rankings, which is arguably lower than he deserved given the sheer weight of goals and assists he registered.

Incredibly, he was not included in Fifa’s The Best team of 2025, despite such a stellar year.

Whilst Raphinha is dominating world football, Leeds fans will no doubt look back fondly on his time at Elland Road.

Raphinha’s best moments for Leeds

It is hard to pinpoint the Brazilian winger’s single best moment during his time in West Yorkshire. Raphinha donned that famous White shirt 67 times over the course of two seasons, bagging 17 goals and assisting a further 12.

It is surely not too far-fetched to say his biggest contribution came in the 2021/22 campaign, in what turned out to be his final game for the club.

In a season where the Whites were threatened with relegation, Raphinha scored his 11th goal of the season, a penalty, to help them beat Brentford and survive in the Premier League.

There were other moments which stood out, too. The former Sporting CP star loved a goal against Everton, bagging three times in four appearances against the Toffees. That included this stellar strike in 2021.

Described as an “absurd” player by former teammate Crysencio Summerville, it was certainly deserved that the Brazilian donned the number ten shirt at Elland Road.

The numbers he put up and the level of performance certainly warranted such recognition.

Raphinha was sensational for Leeds, and they might finally have a player more exciting than him coming through the ranks.

Leeds’ best talent since Raphinha

In the past couple of years, Leeds have had some exciting footballers who have been either bought or produced via the academy.

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Raphinha, of course, is one who was brought into the club, but the likes of Kalvin Phillips and Archie Gray are academy graduates.

Well, the academy has yet again produced another exciting talent. Harry Gray, the younger brother of Archie, is a “special” prospect according to football scout Ben Mattinson, and is on the cusp of the first team at his boyhood club.

Gray is a striker by trade and has been on fire this season.

In 13 appearances across all competitions for the Whites’ academy this term, he’s bagged ten goals, showing just how clinical he can be in front of goal.

Gray record per competition 2025/26

Competition

Games

Goals/assists

Premier League 2

6

5G, 1A

EFL Trophy

2

2G, 1A

Premier League Int. Cup U21

2

0

National League Cup

2

3G

FA Youh Cup

1

0

Stats from Transfermarkt

Perhaps the highlight of his season so far was a hat-trick against Scunthorpe United in the National League Cup.

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The 17-year-old showed excellent instinct in the box for his first strike, before bagging twice from outside of the box, including a sensational free-kick, to take home the match ball and secure a 3-1 win for Leeds.

His talent has already been recognised by manager Daniel Farke. The German gave him a debut last season in the Championship, and included him in the matchday squad in the Carabao Cup and once in the Premier League.

There is a case to be made that Gray is the best attacking talent since Raphinha was at Elland Road. He is clearly an excellent player, proven by the fact that he’s already made his first-team bow and is a real goal machine.

Yet, Leeds haven’t had an attacker who has exploded in the Premier League like the Brazilian since he departed. It is a long season and Gray might get the chance to do that this time around, or, failing that, get his chance in 2026/27 if they stay up.

He is certainly a brilliant talent and could be the most exciting attacker since their former number ten left the club.

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