Watch: Raphinha exchange shirt with Argentine footballer Rodrigo de Paul in an act of pure class

Spanish football club giants Barcelona's skipper Raphinha returned to action on Wednesday during his side's triumph over Atletico Madrid in the semi-finals of the Copa Del Rey at Riyadh Metropolitano. The victory ensured Barcelona's arrival in the finals of Copa Del Rey.

Both teams headed into the contest with four goals each to their name from the first leg. Barcelona emerged victorious in the second leg with a slender 1-0 scoreline in a tough away fixture.

Raphinha's gesture brings him praises 

Unlike most of the matches this season, Raphinha was not very influential on the pitch during the game. However, it was his gesture after the conclusion of the game that melted the hearts of his fans and even critics. Following the end of the fixture, Raphinha was spotted exchanging his shirt with Atletico's midfielder Rodrigo de Paul. Although the gesture may seem to be a normal routine in football, in the case of this duo it holds immense significance from the perspective of two different nations.

Raphinha is the definition of class. Meeting with Rodrigo de Paul post match to swap jerseys after Argentina beat Brazil 4-1 two weeks ago in the international break. 🇧🇷 x 🇦🇷 respeto pic.twitter.com/1sX49NOuf9

— Sara Poraria (@SaraPoraria) April 2, 2025

Copa Del Rey's semi-finals fixture took place after a pretty long international break, which saw Argentina defeat Brazil 4-1 in the CONMEBOL World Cup qualifiers. Brazil's defeat came after Raphinha had bad-mouthed Argentine players in a show with Romario just before the fixture. Raphinha's comments faced stark criticism both from fans and Argentine players. 

Even after facing such backlash, Raphinha decided to put up his hand of comradery for Argentine footballer Rodrigo de Paul after the match. Atletico's team consisted of many Argentine players - Julian Alvarez, Rodrigo de Paul, Giuliano Simeone and Molina.

Raphinha's resurgence has been nothing short of a fairy tale. He is the top contender for winning the Ballon d'Or this season. With 40 goal contributions in 39 appearances this season, he may bag the golden ball should Barcelona lay their hands on any silverware this season.

Atletico Madrid hasn't been at their best over the past few games. Earlier in February, Atletico Madrid was knocked out of the UEFA Champions League after facing a controversial defeat against Real Madrid in the round of 16. Their exit from Copa Del Rey had put an end to their chances of winning silverware this season. Atletico Madrid sits in third position in the Laliga standings 9 points behind table toppers in Barcelona.