Raphinha takes the captain’s armband

Raphinha continues to cement his legacy as one of Barcelona’s key players under Hansi Flick.

The 29-year-old Brazilian, who joined the Catalan club in 2022 from Leeds United, has been named Barcelona’s new first captain for the 2026–27 season.

The decision came following the departure of two key veterans from the club: 34-year-old German goalkeeper Marc-André ter Stegen, who has gone out on loan to Ajax, and 27-year-old Uruguayan defender Ronald Araújo, on loan at Liverpool.

Although so many legendary compatriots have already worn the Barcelona shirt, Raphinha has become the first Brazilian to take on the role of first captain in the club’s history.

Barcelona’s five captains

The team’s vice-captain is Frenkie de Jong. Although the Dutch midfielder has been at the club longer than Raphinha, he has not been awarded the captain’s armband, mainly due to recurring injury problems, which have kept him out of a large number of Barça’s matches.

The other three captains – Pedri, Gavi and Eric Garcia – are all Spanish.

Barcelona captains for the 2026–27 season:

  • 1st captain – Raphinha (Brazil, aged 29)

  • 2nd captain – Frenkie de Jong (Netherlands, aged 29)

  • 3rd captain – Pedri (Spain, aged 23)

  • 4th captain – Gavi (Spain, aged 22)

  • 5th captain – Eric Garcia (Spain, aged 25)

Seven titles with Barça

Raphinha’s appointment as captain comes after a long period in which he has established himself as a key leader within the squad. To date, the Brazilian has won seven titles for the club.

Raphinha’s titles with Barcelona:

  • 3x La Liga (2022–23, 2024–25, 2025–26)

  • 1 Copa del Rey (2024–25)

  • 3x Spanish Super Cup (2023, 2025, 2026)

The winger received his first nomination for the ‘Ballon d'Or’ last year, after being voted La Liga Player of the Season and finishing as one of the top scorers in the Champions League.

Among Brazil’s top goalscorers

With 75 goals in 177 appearances for Barça, Raphinha is currently the fourth-highest Brazilian goalscorer in the club’s history, ahead of Ronaldo, winner of two Ballon d’Or awards.

Brazilian players with the most goals for Barcelona:

  1. Rivaldo – 130 goals

  2. Evaristo de Macedo / Neymar – 105 goals

  3. Ronaldinho – 94 goals

  4. Raphinha – 75 goals

  5. Ronaldo - 47 goals

  6. Romário – 39 goals

  7. Giovanni – 35 goals

  8. Philippe Coutinho – 25 goals

  9. Dani Alves – 22 goals

  10. Sonny Anderson – 21 goals