ไทย
English
中國人
Just as Raphinha's 2026–27 season couldn't have started on a higher note, the Brazilian winger put pen to paper on a new deal with Barcelona, keeping him at Camp Nou until 2030.
Club sporting director Deco had already hinted in September that an extension was imminent, and the forward made it official less than two months later. Barcelona unveiled the new contract on Thursday with a ceremony celebrating their captain.
"I want to give everything for this club and earn a place in the hearts of the Culers," Raphinha said following the signing. "In my first two years, I never thought I'd reach where I am today. I always knew what I was capable of contributing to this club. I trusted in my work and my drive to deliver results."
Our story continues. pic.twitter.com/UYAq7tdEEO
Raphinha made Catalonia his home in 2022, following stints at Sporting CP, Rennes and Leeds United. He put in two solid seasons with Barcelona before truly announcing himself as one of the world's elite players in 2024–25, racking up 56 goal contributions on the way to a domestic treble.
Injuries disrupted his 2025–26 campaign, yet he still managed to find the net 21 times, helping Barcelona claim La Liga and the Spanish Super Cup once more. Remarkably, Raphinha has nearly matched that tally in just three months of the current season, netting 19 goals as the team's new central striker.
"I've switched positions and I'm doing my best for the team," Raphinha added. "I try to adapt to whatever is required of me. I enjoy it, and it's made easier by the quality we have around me."
Raphinha Chasing One Final Honor With Barcelona
By his fourth season in Catalonia, Raphinha had already conquered Spanish football. Some players spend entire careers without lifting La Liga, the Copa del Rey or the Spanish Super Cup — just ask Atlético Madrid icon Antoine Griezmann.
Raphinha has already scaled all three peaks, yet one trophy remains absent from his collection: the Champions League. Barcelona have not claimed the most coveted prize in club football since 2015, when Lionel Messi was still leading the line. In fact, the Catalans have not even reached a Champions League final since that victory in Berlin.
It's an ambition that hangs over the squad each season, and Raphinha is determined to finally help Barcelona reclaim European glory. "There's one trophy I'm still missing, but I want to win as many as possible in this shirt between now and 2030," he said on Thursday.
Raphinha and Barcelona currently occupy fifth place in the league phase standings, having won three of their opening four Champions League fixtures this season. A concerning 4–2 loss to defending champions Paris Saint-Germain served as a sharp reminder of the distance between Europe's best and the Catalans.
Anything remains possible in the Champions League, however, particularly with talents like Raphinha and Lamine Yamal causing havoc for opposing defenses.
Raphinha Brushes Off Fitness Concerns
Worry spread across Catalonia when Raphinha returned from international duty nursing another hamstring problem in September. The Barcelona captain missed only two matches, though he is set to link up with Brazil once more for the final international break of the year.
Anxiety grew further when Raphinha admitted on Thursday that he is "not at 100%" yet, despite netting five goals in his last five outings since rejoining Hansi Flick's squad.
Nevertheless, the forward moved to ease concerns. "I take great care of myself, so the Culers shouldn't worry. I do everything possible to be at my very best."
Barcelona will undoubtedly need Raphinha firing on all cylinders when they face Atlético Madrid this weekend. Diego Simeone's side has strung together seven consecutive league victories, conceding just two goals throughout that run. Should there be a winner on Sunday, the victorious side will move to the summit of La Liga.