Draped in a Brazilian flag he had acquired from the crowd, Raphinha made his way around each corner of Elland Road on a lap of honour with the rest of the Leeds United players and staff yesterday evening.
It's hard to imagine a player who has become as instantaneously popular as he amongst this club's fanbase.
Eight months prior, he had been whisked onto a private jet, landing in the October rain at Leeds-Bradford Airport, and transported to Elland Road to sign a four-year contract, hours before the transfer deadline.
Leeds had jumped at the opportunity to get their man, who at the eleventh hour of the delayed summer transfer window, suddenly became available.
In the ensuing period, Raphinha has been directly involved in 15 Premier League goals - scoring six of his own and setting up nine for his teammates.
Plenty has been made about the 24-year-old's instant impact on Leeds United. His output - both in terms of goals and assists, and his physical exertion - has been phenomenal, particularly for a debut campaign in the supposed toughest league in the world.
Opposing full-backs have struggled to match Raphinha's intensity; he has glided beyond them 56 times according to WhoScored.com - an average of 2.1 every 90 minutes.
On the final day though, Raphinha's involvement and Leeds' result meant the Brazilian became the first player to represent a newly-promoted side in seven consecutive Premier League victories since Steve Watson in 1994.
This is reflective of Raphinha's influence, but also on how strongly the team have finished the season.
Due to the injury picked up against Manchester City, Raphinha missed draws with Liverpool and Manchester United, and the defeat to Brighton and Hove Albion, before returning for the 3-1 home win over Spurs.
This followed three victories over Fulham, Sheffield United and the Premier League champions.
Leeds' sprint to the finish; wins against Burnley, Southampton and West Bromwich Albion, then capped off Raphinha's seven-game achievement.
With 15 goal involvements in a single campaign, there will undoubtedly be interest this summer, but Leeds hold all the cards.
Raphinha is contracted for another three years, meaning the club will be able to demand a considerable fee.
Aside from the financial aspect, Leeds are a side on the up-and-up, outwardly looking to invest in the playing squad and the infrastructure at Elland Road.
If Raphinha - who has already played for a variety of clubs in his short career - has designs on playing at an even higher level, he may well be able to realise it with Leeds United, should he have the patience.
