Barcelona manager Hansi Flick appears to have brought out his own Lionel Messi in Brazilian forward Raphinha.

The 29-year-old scored thrice for La Blaugrana in their 7-2 thrashing of newly-promoted Racing Santander, eclipsing Messi's best start to a season at the club.

The former Leeds United man has already reached double figures for the season in just his seventh appearance, as he looks to be in scintillating form under Flick.

He has been central to the high-flying attacking football that has swept through Spotify Camp Nou as the defending champions extended their faultless start to the domestic campaign.

Their win put them three points and 11 goals clear of rivals Real Madrid as they look to continue their dominance of La Liga.

Raphinha Nets Hat-Trick to Surpass Lionel Messi Tally

Raphinha's hat-trick was the highlight of a seven-star performance from Barcelona against Racing.

Deployed alongside Lamine Yamal and Karim Adeyemi in the front three, the forward scored his first goal of the evening from the penalty spot in the 25th minute to put his side 2-0 up.

He finished off an assist from Dani Olmo with three minutes left in the first half to reach double figures for goals this term before completing his hat-trick from the penalty spot in the 67th minute.

Raphinha's treble takes him up to 11 goals in seven games so far this term, one more than Messi managed in his first seven games of the 2012-13 season for the club.

Messi went on to score 60 goals, including 46 in La Liga, in that season.

The captain's relentless work rate and clinical efficiency ensured Hansi Flick's side collected their sixth consecutive league victory.

Joao Cancelo, an Asier Villalibre own goal, Gabriel Jesus, and Yamal got the other goals as Barcelona strolled to a third victory by 5+ goals this season.

How Hansi Flick Unlocked Raphinha's Full Potential

Barcelona were left in a spot of bother this summer, as they lost both of their first-team strikers from the 2025-26 season.

Robert Lewandowski left the club at the end of his contract, joining MLS outfit Chicago Fire, while Ferran Torres left the club to join European champions Paris Saint-Germain (PSG).

The club tried relentlessly to sign Julian Alvarez but failed, and Flick spent his summer devising an alternative plan involving the player who scored 55 goals across his first two seasons as manager of the club.

Deployed as a central false nine in Flick's high-pressing system, Raphinha has transformed from a traditional touchline winger into one of Europe's most versatile attacking focal points in a rebirth of the club's famed false nine tactic.

His movement between the lines creates constant passing lanes for teammates while pulling opposition central defenders out of position.

Barcelona eventually made two striker additions in Hamza Abdelkarim and Gabriel Jesus, but it is evidently clear who will continue to start games as the focal point in attack for them under Hansi Flick.