Raphinha will wear Brazil’s iconic number 10 shirt as the national side begins a new cycle following Neymar’s retirement from international football. The Barcelona forward has been handed one of the most recognisable numbers in Brazilian football for the team’s upcoming fixtures against Australia and India.
The decision marks a significant moment in Raphinha’s international career. The 29-year-old has established himself as an important member of Brazil’s attack in recent years, while his performances for Barcelona have further strengthened his standing at club level. He will now take on a shirt number that has carried enormous expectations throughout the history of the national team.
Neymar wore the number 10 for Brazil at four consecutive World Cups, from 2014 through 2026, matching Pelé’s record of appearing in four World Cups while wearing the famous shirt.
The latest change comes after Neymar ended his international career in July 2026. He finished his Brazil career as the country’s leading scorer, with 80 goals in official international matches. He also made 130 appearances for the national side, placing him among Brazil’s most-capped players.
For Raphinha, inheriting the number represents more than a change of shirt. Brazil’s number 10 has traditionally been associated with some of the most influential attacking players in the country’s football history. Pelé wore it during Brazil’s successful World Cup campaigns, while players such as Zico, Rivaldo and Ronaldinho also helped give the number its special status.
The significance of the shirt was particularly visible during the 2026 World Cup. Brazil initially retained Neymar as the number 10, while Raphinha wore number 11. The Brazilian Football Confederation’s official squad numbering for the tournament confirmed Neymar as 10 and Raphinha as 11.
That arrangement has now changed as Brazil looks towards the next generation. Raphinha has moved into the number 10 role, while Estêvão has been assigned number 11 for the latest international window. The new numbering is being used for the fixtures against Australia and India, the first matches for Brazil since the 2026 World Cup.
The timing also gives Raphinha an opportunity to establish himself as one of the central figures of Brazil’s next phase under head coach Carlo Ancelotti. According to reports, the current international window is being used to assess a new generation of players with the 2028 Copa América and 2030 World Cup in mind.
Raphinha therefore steps into the famous shirt at a time of transition for Brazil. He will not be expected simply to reproduce Neymar’s role, but the number itself inevitably brings greater attention. Every performance will be viewed against the long history attached to the shirt.
Brazil’s yellow jersey has produced generations of celebrated number 10s. Raphinha now has the opportunity to begin a new chapter in that tradition, while the national team seeks to build an identity beyond the Neymar era.
