We compare the Real Madrid and FC players who have scored the most goals as the 2024 football season comes to an end. Though it’s important to note that the “Merengue” contributed to seven more goals than the “culé,” they are Brazilian, friends, rivals, and decisive.

After a demanding 2024, Spanish teams are finally ready for some introspection and rest. An exceptionally rigorous year has been capped by the European Championship and the Copa America, in addition to the regular competitions. Even though the tournament requires a lot of work overall, FC Barcelona is particularly burdened because they have no time for leisure. Raphinha and Vinicius can confirm this. According to the data, these two players are the most important members of their teams. Alternatively, they have soared, to use a metaphor for the pictures that go with this news.

Our performance metric is offensive contribution. This indicates that they have produced goals and assists for both their club and their country. In their situation, they are bitter opponents in the continuous conflict between the two titans of Spanish football but have a relationship as Brazil’s teammates. The recent winner of the ‘The Best’ trophy, who concluded the season with 49 contributions in 58 games, is also somewhat in the lead in this contest. In contrast, the Barcelona player made 42 contributions in 56 games. Raphinha played two less games, so there was a 7-action gap, which is rather less on average: 0.85 against 0.75.

The 34 goals Vinicius scored on his own and the 15 assists he gave his teammates make up his contributions. For his part, Raphinha recorded 28 goals to 14 assists, which is twice as many goals as assists. The first conclusion is that, despite being wingers, they were more important in scoring goals than in offering assistance, which is not usually the case.

With 32 goals and 14 assists, the former player had nearly one decisive action per game while wearing the Real Madrid jersey, with 46 in 47 games. In 45 games, the former Leeds player recorded 37 important acts, including 24 goals and 13 assists.

The Barcelona player was far more decisive in Brazil, where they were teammates. After 11 games together, Vinicius had three actions (2 goals + 1 assist) while Raphinha had five actions (4 goals + 1 assist). Also, both scored two goals (the latter against and the former against Peru).

Notably, in 2024, Vinicius’s favorite victim was Barcelona (together with). He contributed five goals and one assist against them. Valladolid leads Raphinha with four contributions (3 goals + 1 assist), all of which were made in the same game. With three goals, the Real Madrid team is his next favorite victim.