Barcelona’s Brazilian forward #11 Raphinha (R) celebrates scoring his team’s first goal during the UEFA Champions League first round day 1 football match between FC Barcelona and Feyenoord at Camp Nou stadium in Barcelona on September 9, 2026. (Photo by Lluis GENE / AFP via Getty Images)
Luis Mazariegos Luis Mazariegos has been a lead writer and editor for Barca Blaugranes since 2012, bringing tactical analysis, transfer reports, opinion columns, and investigative coverage to the SB Nation network. An award-winning journalist, he has held press credentials for Champions League and La Liga fixtures – reporting live from the stadium, press box, and press conferences. He frequently provides commentary as a guest on football podcasts and radio shows. In addition to his sports media work, Luis spent over a decade in broadcast television and currently serves as an editor for a major digital news network.
Heading into the season, there was a genuine question who would be starting at center-forward for FC Barcelona. Now, it’s not a question at all. Raphinha has excelled in the role, converting from a winger to a devastating striker.
In five starts as a striker, Raphinha has racked up eight goals and one assist, having scored at least one goal in each game. With a combination of speed, stamina, determination, and good finishing technique, he has been in the thick of Barça’s rampaging attack.
After struggling through an injury that kept him out at the FIFA World Cup with Brazil, Raphinha has bounced back to his best. His technique and skill have served him well, helping him blow past defenders to set himself up to shoot. His constant running means Barcelona have help defending from the front, plus a threat in behind when they have the ball.
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Raphinha’s breakthrough as a 9 comes after Barcelona spent the whole summer trying to buy Julián Alvarez from Atlético Madrid. Barça made big offers, but Atlético stood firm in not selling him to the Catalans.
If Rapha’s form keeps up, Barcelona may start to wonder if they truly need to make a star signing in the center-forward position after all.
There will be bigger tests than the ones Barcelona have faced thus far, and then it will be proven whether Raphinha can reasonably be called the best striker in the world, or if it’s a purple patch. That will also illuminate whether Barcelona continue looking at elite strikers to sign in the market, or whether they will stick with Raphinha and his compatriot Gabriel Jesus as backup.
So today’s Barca Blaugranes Question of the Day is:
Should Barcelona go back for Julian Alvarez in January or do they no longer need the Atletico star?
Now it’s over to you! Feel free to share your teams, thoughts, opinions and answers in the comments section below!