Raphinha Silences Every Critic — Including Himself — With a Record-Breaking Season Opener

Raphinha is thriving in his role as Barcelona's center forward, equaling the club's all-time record for most goals scored in the first eight games of a season. Nevertheless, the Brazilian admitted he initially "had doubts" about making the switch to his new role.

After failing to secure a top-class striker—most notably Julián Alvarez—to fill the void left by the departing Robert Lewandowski and Ferran Torres, there was genuine uncertainty over who would lead Barcelona's attack when the campaign kicked off.

The answer turned out to be Raphinha. Those concerns have since been completely put to rest. Now, the hottest center forward in world football has opened up to Rac+1 about how his transformation from winger to striker came about.

"We had that match against Basel [in preseason]," Raphinha said. "I don't really recall training as a No. 9, but during the game the manager told me I'd be playing as a No. 9 before switching me out to the wing. I said 'no problem, I'll do whatever is needed' and that was that. I played there and then he moved me to the left wing in the second half.

De locos lo de @Raphinha_11b. 🤯@FCBarcelona_es | LALIGAHighlights pic.twitter.com/H8pmFvQ7yJ

"I remember just before La Liga began we were in training and I was the striker with Anthony [Gordon] on the left and Lamine [Yamal] on the right, and the manager asked whether I felt comfortable, or if I'd prefer to go back to my natural position and have Anthony as the No. 9.

"I told him I was comfortable and that if anything needed adjusting during the game we could always make a change. And the reality is that I performed really well, so he never asked for one."

Raphinha netted twice in Barça's opening-day win over Elche. He has since bagged braces in three additional matches, along with two hat-tricks, as he continues to etch his name into the club's record books.

Raphinha Matches 78-Year Barcelona Record

Most Goals Through Eight Games to Start a Season in Barça History

With 14 goals across eight appearances in all competitions this season, Raphinha now jointly holds the record for the best goalscoring start to a season by any Barcelona player in the club's history—a benchmark previously established by club icon César Rodríguez. Seventy-eight years ago, Rodríguez enjoyed a stunning beginning to the 1948–49 campaign.

Lionel Messi's personal best was 12 goals at the start of the 2017–18 season, a tally also reached by Mariano Martín and Rodríguez during the mid-20th century. What Raphinha is producing has seldom been witnessed in the club's storied history.

His brilliance stretches beyond Barcelona as well. His 12 goals in seven La Liga outings represents the second-best return this century, surpassed only by Cristiano Ronaldo's 13 in 2014–15. Messi's peak was 11 goals at the start of 2017–18.

Raphinha Had Doubts But Trusted Hansi Flick

Despite his obvious success, Raphinha also confessed to having reservations about moving to center forward, conscious of the expectations that come with the role and the caliber of the player he was being asked to replace.

"Yes, I had doubts," Raphinha revealed to Rac+1 when discussing his move to striker. "Because people judge you by goals—at the end of the day, you're playing as a striker. And on top of that, you're stepping into the position where the one and only Robert Lewandowski played.

"So if you don't score goals, people judge you for it—they demand that from you."

Ultimately, however, Raphinha placed his trust in Flick—the manager who persuaded him to remain at Barcelona when he arrived two summers ago. Putting faith in the German coach has once again paid dividends for the 29-year-old Brazilian.

"I've always said it and I'll keep saying it—he's the manager who transformed both my mindset within the club and my belief in myself," Raphinha told DAZN about Flick. "I'm incredibly grateful to him, and I'll show that whenever I get the chance."

Hansi Flick Showers Praise on 'Top' Raphinha

Flick's call to deploy Raphinha as a striker is looking like an inspired move, and the manager heaped lavish praise on his new captain while also explaining the reasoning behind the decision to make him Barça's lead attacker.

"We know the quality Raphinha possesses," Flick said following Barcelona's victory over Sevilla. "We are absolutely delighted with him. He contributes so much—his dynamism is top-class, but he also works hard without the ball. Today, the team delivered the final pass and he made it count for us, which is great.

"But ultimately it's always a decision for the coaching staff. We discussed who could perform in that position and then we spoke with the players. I think after these numbers, after these eight games, he's very happy playing as a No. 9."

The German manager also described appointing Raphinha as Barcelona's captain as "the best decision," calling him "the perfect captain" for everything he brings both on and off the pitch, with and without the ball.

In the midst of the finest spell of his career, Raphinha is also reportedly close to penning a contract extension with the Catalan club. Despite being overlooked for the 2026 Ballon d'Or nominees list, life couldn't be better for Raphinha, who has been performing like the best player on the planet since his switch to striker.