Barcelona forward Raphinha has opened up about his football inspirations, naming Brazilian legend Ronaldinho as his ultimate role model while growing up.

The 28-year-old Brazilian, who has been in impressive form for Barcelona this season with 34 goals and 25 assists, revealed that alongside Ronaldinho, four other football superstars played significant roles in shaping his career.

"When I started watching football, I liked Neymar, Robben, Cristiano Ronaldo and Messi," Raphinha said in comments reported by Barca Universal. "I saw different things in each player. I was inspired by them."

However, the Barcelona star made it clear that Ronaldinho held a special place in his heart above all others. "As a child, there was only one player that I wanted to be like: Ronaldinho. I would go to school and imitate him—put on the headband, his shirt. He was my role model," he added.

The admiration for Ronaldinho is particularly significant given their shared Brazilian heritage and the fact that Raphinha now plays for Barcelona, where Ronaldinho achieved legendary status during his time at the club from 2003 to 2008.

Raphinha's revelation comes amid what has been a standout season for him at Barcelona. His impressive tally of 34 goals and 25 assists has established him as one of the key performers for the Catalan giants, following in the footsteps of his childhood heroes who once graced the Camp Nou.

The Brazilian's performances have not only helped Barcelona in domestic competitions but have also been crucial in their Champions League campaign, where he recently equaled Ronaldo's scoring record in a match against Inter Milan.