Raphinha is reportedly set to be officially named the first captain for FC Barcelona for the upcoming 2026/27 season, and listen, this is massive! If confirmed, he’s gonna be the first Brazilian footballer *ever* to lead the Catalan giants as their first captain. Seriously, that’s history in the making.
The Leadership Shuffle is Real at Camp Nou
Things have been wild over at Barcelona leading into this summer. Last season, Marc-Andre ter Stegen was wearing the armband as the first captain, with Ronald Araujo, Frenkie de Jong, Raphinha, and Pedri right behind him in the pecking order. But man, the squad has seen some changes! The Blaugrana said goodbye to both Ter Stegen and Araujo, who are now out on loan to Ajax and Liverpool, respectively. That’s two huge pieces of their leadership group gone. Then, to make things even crazier, Frenkie de Jong is sidelined with an injury that’s gonna keep him out for a long stretch. Talk about a vacancy at the top! With the new season literally less than a week away, this move for Raphinha at the top spot makes total sense with all those holes to fill.
Why Raphinha Is The Absolute Perfect Choice
Honestly, if this report is true, Raphinha totally deserves this. He’s been an absolute beast for Barça these past couple of seasons under Hansi Flick, becoming one of their most important players. You watch him play, and he’s basically an extension of the manager out on the field. That guy sets the tone for the whole team with his insane hard work, commitment, and pure intensity. Remember his 2024/25 campaign? Spectacular! He was even in the conversation for the Ballon d’Or! Yeah, last time out, his 29-year-old attacker body got hampered by recurring hamstring injuries, which stopped him from hitting that peak form. He even had trouble with it during the World Cup with Brazil, which sucks. So, he and the coaching staff have been laser-focused on getting him back to full fitness and crushing it like he did in 2024/25. This added responsibility as captain, especially after being linked with a move to Saudi Arabia earlier this summer, is just gonna fuel him to step up and deliver his absolute best version for Barcelona. Plus, with all these leadership spots open, Eric Garcia is also looking like a strong contender for one of those captaincy positions.
The 2026/27 season kicks off in days, and all eyes are gonna be on Raphinha as he steps into this massive role. Can he get back to that Ballon d’Or form and lead this new-look Barcelona squad? You know he’s gonna give it everything he’s got!
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Yahoo Sports.
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