FC Barcelona: “Raphinha is currently the best player in the world”

After an exceptional start to the season, Raphinha is impressing in Spain, and Edgar Groleau considers him the benchmark in world football today.

Raphinha’s start to the season is no longer leaving many people in Spain indifferent. Speaking by phone on After Foot on RMC, Edgar Groleau, journalist and RMC Sport correspondent in Spain, did not hesitate when asked to name the player currently dominating world football. For him, the Brazilian from FC Barcelona is quite simply the best player in the world at the moment.

“He is the best player in the world right now”

Edgar Groleau mainly highlighted Raphinha’s complete transformation, both in his play with the ball and in his work without it:

“Obviously, he is the best player in the world right now. I feel that he is possessed, possessed by a mission, by something extra. He has an incredible determination. And when I talk about determination, it is with or without the ball: to serve his teammates, for everything, really. When I see him pressing, I see Ousmane Dembélé in the year he won the Ballon d’Or. When you see him finish, you find that killer instinct we see in the best finishers in the world. And all of that creates a cocktail that has simply been exceptional since the start of the season. Even physically, he is no longer the same player. His way of playing is no longer the same either. Before, he was more of a dribbler and sometimes looked for the spectacular. Now, he is a hired killer, not only when it comes to finishing moves, but quite simply when it comes to playing football.”

An analysis that perfectly sums up the Brazilian’s development under Hansi Flick. Raphinha is no longer merely a winger capable of taking on defenders and creating openings: he has become a much more direct player, more aggressive in the press and, above all, far more effective in the final third.

A completely crazy start to the season

The figures give weight to the French journalist’s comments. Since the start of the 2026-2027 season, Raphinha has recorded 14 goals and 3 assists in 8 appearances across all competitions, for 17 direct contributions. In La Liga, the Brazilian already has 12 goals and 3 assists in 7 matchdays.

He has also found the net twice in the Champions League. Repositioned in a more central role and much closer to the penalty area, he has become the main finisher for a Barça side that has displayed impressive attacking power since the start of the season.

Two hat-tricks in a matter of days

His most recent week perfectly illustrates this exceptional form. On September 16, Raphinha scored a hat-trick in Barça’s emphatic victory over Racing Santander (7-2). A few days later, he scored three more goals away to Sevilla FC.

The Brazilian has therefore already recorded two hat-tricks this season. Six of his 14 goals have come in those two matches alone, evidence of his current efficiency in front of goal.

Beyond the statistics, it is precisely this overall development that Groleau highlights: a more complete, intense and collective player who is much more clinical. At this rate, Raphinha continues to establish himself as one of the leading figures of the early European season.

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Mahdi Zakaria LAZRI |

Editor

Football web writer creating digital sports content with a focus on news, analysis and stories that reflect passion, accuracy and objectivity.

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