Barcelona excited to welcome back Brazil’s number 10

The forward scored a great free kick against Venezuela as he continues the form that has him as a Flick and fan fave.

This Raphinha is unstoppable - whether in LaLiga, the Champions League, or the qualifiers for the 2026 World Cup.

The Barcelona forward carried his outstanding club form with the Blaugrana into the Brazilian national team, stepping up as a leader for a Canarinha side not currently at its best. Wearing the iconic number 10 shirt – a jersey emblematic worldwide but especially in Brazil – he did not falter under the weight of its history, tied to legends like Pelé and Barcelona greats such as Romário, Rivaldo, Ronaldinho, and Neymar.

Raphinha stepping into big shoes

Against Venezuela, Raphinha scored a stunning direct free-kick goal (he’s a specialist), which wasn’t enough to secure three points for Brazil but added to the brace he scored against Peru in October’s international window.

These performances confirm Raphinha as one of the leaders of the Canarinha and its main offensive weapon at the moment. In 30 international appearances, he now has 10 goals and six assists. He’ll have the chance to improve these stats in Brazil’s next match against Uruguay in Salvador de Bahia.

Flick’s main man in Barcelona

Raphinha is having an extraordinary season. Under Hansi Flick’s guidance, he has undergone a complete transformation, becoming one of the most in-form players in the world. His numbers are remarkable: seven goals and eight assists in 13 La Liga matches, and five goals with two assists in just four Champions League games. He has also recorded two hat-tricks this season (against Valladolid and Bayern Munich) and is Brazil’s top scorer in the World Cup qualifiers with four goals.

He’ll arrive with plenty of mileage in his legs for the match against Celta de Vigo, but it’s highly unlikely Flick will rest him. Lewandowski, dealing with back issues, and Lamine Yamal, recovering from an ankle problem, are expected to be available for the German coach barring any setbacks. Barcelona’s attacking trio has no plans of slowing down.