It feels like Barcelona have almost stumbled onto the most prolific front three the club has ever seen in the Champions League this season.

Robert Lewandowski is nearing 37, an age where even Lionel Messi has lessened in pace. Meanwhile, Lamine Yamal, not yet 18, is achieving remarkable feats for someone his age. The club, on the other hand, made significant efforts last summer to replace Raphinha, pursuing Nico Williams quite publicly.

Together, this trio has nearly led Barcelona to clinch just a second La Liga title in six years. Their Champions League run concluded on Tuesday night during the semi-finals, narrowly missing the final for the first time in a decade due to a late setback.

Back in 2014/15, when the Catalans last took the European champion title, Messi, Luis Suarez, and Neymar, widely recognized as ‘MSN’ for their season’s accomplishments, netted a total of 27 goals in the competition—Messi and Neymar each contributing ten, and Suarez adding seven.

Following two legs of this season’s semi-final against Inter, the Lewandowski (11), Yamal (five), Raphinha (13) trio finished with 29, surpassing MSN. Raphinha, who has emerged as a Ballon d’Or contender because of the surprisingly huge numbers he has put up across all competitions is the joint-top Champions Leaguer scorer this season – alongside Borussia Dortmund’s Serhou Guirassy.

But that goalscoring record for the front three will ultimately come as scant consolation.

Barcelona had a place in the Champions League final in their sights, leading 3-2 on the night at San Siro, and 6-5 on aggregate, with only three minutes plus stoppage time left to play.

Having trailed 2-0 in the first leg at home and fighting back to 3-3, Hansi Flick’’s side again fell two goals behind in Milan. But three second-half goals without further Inter reply from Eric Garcia, Dani Olmo and Raphinha looked like it would be enough to set up a final date against either Paris Saint-Germain or Arsenal at Munich’s Allianz Arena on Saturday 31 May.

Yet Francesco Acerbi levelled the score, both on the night and on aggregate, in stoppage time, before Davide Frattesi put Inter ahead for good nine minutes into extra-time.

Inter will now contest a second Champions League final in three seasons after losing narrowly against Manchester City two years ago. But Barcelona’s wait extends into an 11th year.