Raphinha has been appointed as Barcelona‘s captain for the 2026-27 season, becoming the first Brazilian to be handed the role at the Spanish champions.
Pedri, Eric García, Frenkie de Jong and Lamine Yamal join Raphinha as part of the leadership group.
Barça coach Hansi Flick picked Raphinha and Pedri as captain and vice captain, respectively, with a squad vote determining the appointment of García, De Jong and Yamal.
“My coaching staff and I, we are here for two years now, so we have more of an overview about what happens in the team,” Flick said ahead of Sunday’s trip to Valencia in LaLiga.
“For me, it was important that I have two captains. I decided two and the other players were named by the team.
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“So first is Raphinha, second is Pedri, third is Eric and then Frenkie and Lamine.”
Raphinha, 29, replaces Marc-André ter Stegen as Barça’s permanent captain following the goalkeeper’s loan move to Dutch side Ajax.
Along with De Jong and Pedri, he was one of the assistant captains last year, with García and Yamal the new faces added for the upcoming campaign.
They fill the spaces vacated by Ter Stegen and Ronald Araújo, who has joined Liverpool on a season-long loan.
“For me, when I see the team, the players who have a lot of influence, this is for me Raphinha and also Pedri — also because they nearly always play,” Flick added.
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“It was a clear decision. As I said, I know the team much better than before. It’s a good group, a good leadership team.”
Given how often Ter Stegen, Araújo and De Jong were missing last season, Raphinha has already captained Barça on several occasions.
However, he has now been handed the role on a permanent basis, becoming the first Brazilian to hold the honour at the Catalan club.
Barça have a rich history of players from Brazil representing them, with Ronaldinho, Ronaldo, Romario, Rivaldo and Neymar among some of the stars from the South American country to have worn the club’s shirt.
Raphinha became the latest when he joined Barça from English side Leeds United in 2022 for around €55 million (£47m / $63.5m) and he has since established himself as one of the team’s most important players.
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He has scored 80 goals in 180 appearances for the club, winning three LaLiga titles, three Spanish Supercopas and one Copa del Rey in that period.
Having been signed as a right winger, his best performances have come on the left, while he is currently being used as the team’s central striker following the exits of Robert Lewandowski and Ferran Torres.
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“He’s doing great,” Flick said of Raphinha, who’s netted five goals in Barça’s opening three league games.
“He’s the best option for us at the moment in this position. He starts the dynamic and the pressing because he has a lot of intensity and speed and helps us a lot.”
Raphinha is expected to continue as the No. 9 on Sunday at Mestalla against Valencia even though Flick says new signing Gabriel Jesus is “ready” to feature if required.
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Barça are looking to make it four wins from four in LaLiga and, at the same time, capitalise on Real Madrid’s loss to Real Betis on Friday.
Lamine Yamal is a doubt, though, but he will travel to Valencia with a decision to be made on his fitness closer to kick-off.
“He had a hit and had some pain, so we said better that he trains separately [on Saturday],” Flick said.
“After training he said, ‘OK everything is good.’ So he will travel and hopefully he will play.”
