Raphinha Scouting Report: Barcelona Captain, Rating and Fit

Last updated: 9 November 2026. This is an original GegenSports scouting analysis built from public sources; interpretations are ours. Images are schematic illustrations, not match data.

Quick Scouting Answer

Raphinha (Raphael Dias Belloli) was born on 14 December 1996, is 29, wears number 11 for Barcelona and has been club captain since 5 September 2026, the first Brazilian to hold the armband. He is 1.76 m tall. A left-footed right winger for most of his career, he plays a more central, box-adjacent role under Hansi Flick. According to the 8 November 2026 Wikipedia tables he has 15 goals in 11 La Liga games and 4 in 3 Champions League games this season: 19 in 14 overall. Last season he finished with 21 goals in 33 appearances.

Strengths: scoring consistency, half-space runs, pressing intent, and a varied shooting and set-piece threat. Weaknesses: repeated muscle injuries over two seasons, limited aerial presence at 1.76 m, a goal rate that is statistically hard to sustain, and the age curve of a sprint-based player about to turn 30. GegenSports rating: 86/100. A Süper Lig move is unrealistic financially, but his profile is the clearest template for an inverted, high-pressing winger.

Identity and Biography

We cover only verified, publicly available football information about his private life: none is needed here.

Career and Transfer Table

Leeds under Marcelo Bielsa gave him years of high-intensity pressing, which arguably explains why he fits Flick’s system so naturally. That is our interpretation.

Season Statistics

The table shows appearances and goals only. For xG (expected goals, a model’s estimate of how likely a shot is to score), xA (expected assists) and pressing data, check Transfermarkt, FBref and FotMob; we have not used figures we could not verify. Fifteen goals in 11 league games is about 1.36 per match, a pace no winger sustains. Some of it may come from penalties and set pieces, so the split matters.

Playing Style Analysis

Inverted winger: as a left-footed right winger he cuts inside onto his stronger foot to shoot or play into the box, freeing space for the full-back to overlap.

Half-space: the vertical channel between wing and centre, where defenders struggle to decide who marks whom. Many of his most dangerous runs start there.

High press: winning the ball back immediately in the opponent’s half. Flick makes it a team principle, and Raphinha’s work rate fits it.

In possession he starts wide and moves inside as the ball reaches midfield, dragging the opposing left-back out of shape. Out of possession he delivers the first press, often triggered by a back-pass or a poor first touch, and curves his run to funnel play wide. In transition his short, explosive acceleration and quick decisions separate him from a pure runner. Treat all of this as viewing-based interpretation, to be confirmed with heat-map data.

Strengths

• Finishing and consistency: 19 goals in 14 games this season, 21 in 33 last season.
• Half-space runs and late arrivals into the box, from outside the defender’s eye line.
• Pressing and work rate in a pressing-first system.
• Four goals in two Supercopa games last season, showing output under pressure.
• Big-match experience: two World Cups, a Copa América, three league titles and three Supercopas with Barcelona.

Weaknesses

• Injury record: a biceps femoris tear in September 2025 and a hamstring injury in March 2026, each costing weeks.
• Aerial presence: at 1.76 m, headed goals are not his game.
• Sustainability: 15 La Liga goals in 11 games will almost certainly regress; compare against xG before drawing conclusions.
• Age curve: players who rely on sprints and sudden acceleration face a decline risk after 30.

GegenSports Rating: 86/100

Our own scale, not copied from any platform: finishing 21/25, half-space movement and positioning 18/20, pressing and work rate 14/15, sustainability and injury history 14/20, big-match experience 9/10, age and value balance 10/10. Total 86/100.

Similar Players

• Mohamed Salah: left-footed right winger who cuts inside to shoot; a longer scoring record.
• Riyad Mahrez: inverted right winger with controlled ball-carrying; Raphinha creates more through pressing.
• Ousmane Dembélé: right-sided inside-cutting presser; Dembélé is two-footed.

These comparisons are based on role, not a one-to-one statistical match.

Süper Lig Fit and Suitable Turkish Clubs

A move is not financially realistic, but he would be most effective in a high-tempo 4-3-3 that uses the half-space. Big-budget sides such as Galatasaray, Fenerbahçe and Beşiktaş can use this profile as a benchmark for their wingers. The Süper Lig’s physical, duel-heavy style could test a winger with limited aerial strength, though his pressing offsets it. Adaptation score: 7/10. Ideal teammates: an attacking left-back, a ball-playing holding midfielder, and a centre-forward who pins defenders.

Cost and Value Scenarios

• A: as captain and key player, a sale is not expected under normal conditions.
• B: if a move ever happened, the fee would sit beyond most budgets outside the elite clubs.
• C: loans or bonus-heavy structures are theoretical only.

These are scenarios, not offers or negotiations.

Development Potential and Durability

At 29, development means holding the current level. His ceiling has largely been shown; the question is how many games he can play healthy. He played 33 games last season across two injuries and 14 so far this season.

Foreign Status and UK Work Permit

He is a Brazilian national. In Spain, non-EU status falls under club squad rules; in Türkiye, under the TFF’s current foreign-player regulations. His earlier spell at Leeds is informative for UK history, but the Governing Body Endorsement (GBE) system is points-based. This is not legal advice: consult official sources and club legal staff.

Suitable Leagues

• La Liga
• Premier League (prior Leeds experience)
• Serie A
• Saudi Pro League (theoretical, budget-wise)
• Brazilian Série A (return scenario)

Sporting Director Summary

One of Europe’s most productive wide forwards right now. Risks: injuries and age. Opportunity: at his peak in Flick’s system. Recommendation: use him as a benchmark for the “half-space finishing, pressing winger” profile rather than as a target.

FAQ

How old is Raphinha?

He was born on 14 December 1996 and is 29 as of 9 November 2026.

How tall is Raphinha?

1.76 m.

What number does Raphinha wear?

11 at Barcelona.

Is Raphinha Barcelona captain?

Yes, since 5 September 2026, the club’s first Brazilian captain.

How many goals has he scored this season?

As of 8 November 2026: 15 in La Liga and 4 in the Champions League, 19 in total.

What is his position?

Right winger, also used centrally under Flick.

Which clubs has he played for?

Vitória de Guimarães, Sporting CP, Rennes, Leeds United and Barcelona.

How many Brazil caps does he have?

43 caps and 12 goals as of 29 September 2026.

Could Raphinha join a Süper Lig club?

Not realistically; this report analyses profile fit only.

What is his injury history?

A biceps femoris tear in September 2025 and a hamstring injury in March 2026, returning in May 2026.

Related GegenSports Reports

• Fermín López scouting report
• Pedri scouting report
• Pedri (Turkish)
• Frenkie de Jong (Turkish)
• Gabriel Jesus (Turkish)

Sources

• Wikipedia, Raphinha (8 November 2026 version): birth, career, fees, appearances and goals.
• Suggested cross-checks: FC Barcelona official site, Transfermarkt, FBref, FotMob.

Note: appearance and goal data rely on the Wikipedia table; independent verification is advised for advanced statistics.