Barcelona attacking trident following in the footsteps of iconic MSN trio
Under Hansi Flick, Barcelona have rediscovered their attacking spark—and in some style. Goals are flowing freely, and the trio of Robert Lewandowski, Raphinha, and Lamine Yamal are at the heart of it.
Advertisement
Advertisement
Their blistering form this season has naturally drawn comparisons with the iconic MSN trio of Lionel Messi, Luis Suarez, and Neymar, who once tore apart defences across Europe.
To be fair, while comparisons with the MSN at many levels might seem premature at first, the numbers suggest otherwise.
Flick’s current front three have already been involved in 124 goals across all competitions this season.
Lewandowski leads the charge with 42 goal contributions—a remarkable 40 goals and two assists.
Raphinha has quietly been a playmaking machine, registering 50 contributions (28 goals and 22 assists), while the teenage sensation Yamal has tallied 32 contributions, with an even split of 14 goals and 18 assists.
Raphinha, Lewandowski and Yamal are on a roll. (Photo by Angel Martinez/Getty Images)
With eight La Liga matches remaining, a Copa del Rey final on the horizon, and the possibility of up to four Champions League fixtures if Barça make it to the final, the trio still have time to pad their stats.
Advertisement
Advertisement
Given their current trajectory, surpassing the 150-goal mark looks achievable—a feat that would place them among the most productive attacking units in Europe this season.
Still, catching the legendary MSN remains a daunting task. During the 2015-16 season, Messi, Suarez, and Neymar were responsible for a jaw-dropping 200 goal contributions.
Suarez alone had 82 (59 goals, 23 assists), followed by Messi’s 64 (41 goals, 23 assists), and Neymar’s 54 (31 goals, 23 assists). That level of output remains unmatched in the club’s history.
Even so, what makes Flick’s trio special is not just the numbers but their cohesion and consistency. The German manager has done well to manage their workload and ensure they are peaking at the right time of the season.
Whether they reach the historic milestone or not, this new trident is proving to be one of Barcelona’s deadliest attacking threats in years.
