Raphinha has turned the opening weeks of 2026/27 into the best goalscoring run of his Barcelona career. The Brazilian captain has scored eight goals in the club’s first five competitive matches, leading Barcelona’s charge in both La Liga and the Champions League. Under Hansi Flick he has become the reference point of the most explosive attack in Europe.
- Goals in Barcelona’s first five matches of 2026/27: 8
A start built on relentless scoring
Barcelona came out of the gate at full speed, and Raphinha sat at the center of it. He struck twice against Elche, once against Athletic Club, then added another brace against Rayo Vallecano and a goal against Valencia. That is six league goals in his opening four matches, with his name on the scoresheet every time.
The European nights carried the same energy. In the 5-1 win over Feyenoord on September 9, Raphinha produced another brace to open Barcelona’s Champions League campaign. It stretched his run to at least one goal in six straight games, a streak worth ten goals in total and the hottest stretch of his Catalan career.
Spain took notice quickly. Raphinha was named La Liga Player of the Month for August, recognition for the way he had dragged Barcelona’s attack to a level few teams in the world could match.
- La Liga goal contributions in 2026/27: 9 (6 goals, 3 assists)
From winger to Flick’s number nine
The tactical story matters as much as the numbers. Flick has moved Raphinha inside, handing him the central striker role that once ran through Robert Lewandowski. A player known for cutting in from the left is now the one attacking the six yard box, and the goals have followed without any adjustment period.
That shift suits a Barcelona side that presses high and floods the final third. Raphinha reads the movement of Lamine Yamal and the midfield runners, then arrives late to finish the chances Flick’s system manufactures. The output speaks for itself, with Barcelona scoring five goals in four of their first five matches.
It also shows how complete Raphinha has become. The 29 year old Brazil international arrived in Spain as a direct winger, and he now offers finishing, link play and leadership from the front. That versatility lets Flick change shape without changing personnel.
Chasing Barcelona’s history books
The records are stacking up fast. Raphinha became the first Barcelona player to score the club’s opening goal in both La Liga and the Champions League in the same season since Gerard Piqué in 2021/22, joining a short list that also features Lionel Messi and Luis Suárez.
His Feyenoord brace pushed him to 21 Champions League goals for Barcelona, moving him into the club’s all time top five in the competition. Only Messi, Suárez, Rivaldo and Lewandowski sit above him.
- Barcelona all time Champions League goals: 21 (fifth on the club’s list)
One historic mark still sits just in front of him. Sándor Kocsis scored nine goals in Barcelona’s first five games of the 1958/59 season, and Raphinha’s eight leaves him within a single strike of the oldest scoring start in the club’s books.
What it means for La Liga and the Champions League
Raphinha’s form has lifted Barcelona to the top of both competitions they value most. He currently leads Europe’s big five leagues for direct goal contributions, and he has had a hand in nine of Barcelona’s 21 La Liga goals so far. For a team defending its Spanish title and hunting a deep European run, that kind of individual return raises the ceiling of the entire season.
The captaincy adds meaning to the story. Named Barcelona’s first captain for 2026/27, Raphinha has answered the responsibility with the most productive stretch of his time in Catalonia. Hold this pace, and both his personal records and Barcelona’s silverware ambitions move firmly into view.
Frequently asked questions
How many goals does Raphinha have this season? Raphinha has scored eight goals in Barcelona’s first five competitive matches of 2026/27, six in La Liga and two in the Champions League, to go with three assists.
Why is Raphinha playing as a center forward? Hansi Flick has repositioned him from the left wing into the central striker role, giving Barcelona a finisher who attacks the box directly. The change has produced an immediate spike in his scoring.
Is Raphinha the captain of Barcelona? Yes. He was named Barcelona’s first captain for the 2026/27 season and has led the team’s fast start both on the scoresheet and in the dressing room.
Where can I watch Raphinha and Barcelona in the US? La Liga matches stream on ESPN platforms, including ESPN Select, while Barcelona’s Champions League games are available on Paramount+. Both services let American fans follow Raphinha’s record chase live.
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