Raphinha has etched his name permanently into the history books of FC Barcelona after being appointed primary club captain for the 2026-27 season. The 29-year-old forward becomes the very first Brazilian footballer in the Catalan club’s 125-year history to wear the official armband as first skipper, marking a monumental milestone in his career at Camp Nou.
The Brazilian international arrived at Barcelona in the summer of 2022 following an impressive spell with English Premier League side Leeds United. Over recent campaigns under head coach Hansi Flick, he has evolved into an indispensable figure on the pitch whilst establishing authority within the dressing room. His tactical discipline, tireless pressing, and vocal leadership have earned the deep respect of his peers and coaching staff alike.
Raphinha’s elevation comes amid a complete restructuring of Barcelona’s leadership group ahead of the new campaign. Marc-André ter Stegen, who held the primary armband last season, recently completed a loan move to Ajax, whilst second captain Ronald Araújo departed on loan to Liverpool. These high-profile departures created a void at the top of the leadership group, prompting the squad and management to entrust the primary captaincy to the winger.
Behind Raphinha, Dutch midfielder Frenkie de Jong steps up as second captain. The rest of the leadership quintet consists entirely of young Spanish international talent, with Pedri named third captain, Gavi taking the fourth spot, and defender Eric García appointed as fifth captain.
The appointment carries distinct historic weight given Catalonia’s storied relationship with South American talent. Iconic Brazilian forwards including Romário, Ronaldo, Rivaldo, Ronaldinho, and Neymar have all graced Camp Nou with distinction, yet none ever served as the club’s official first captain. Raphinha now breaks that long-standing pattern, stepping into a role previously held by long-serving local or European figures.
Since moving to Spain, Raphinha has gathered an impressive array of silverware, lifting seven major trophies with the Blaugrana. His haul features three La Liga titles, one Copa del Rey, and three Spanish Super Cups. His individual influence reached a peak in 2025 when he was crowned La Liga Player of the Year alongside finishing among the leading goalscorers in the UEFA Champions League.
His relentless attacking output has placed him amongst the most prolific South Americans to ever represent the club. Across 177 competitive appearances for Barcelona, Raphinha has netted 75 goals. That tally places him fourth on the all-time scoring chart for Brazilians at the club, trailing only Rivaldo on 130 goals, Evaristo de Macedo and Neymar tied on 105 goals apiece, and Ronaldinho on 94 goals. As Barcelona prepare to launch their latest domestic and European campaigns, Raphinha will lead the side onto the pitch carrying both the skipper’s armband and a unique place in club folklore.
