Raphinha has lived every shade of modern football. From the grind of Premier League survival battles to decisive nights in Barcelona and the thrill of scoring for Brazil, each chapter shaped the player he is today. In this exclusive Sofascore interview, he opens up about World Cup expectations, working with Ancelotti, his personal goals for 2026 and the emotional milestones that marked his journey. This conversation goes beyond results and scorelines. It reveals the mindset, personality and competitive fire behind one of Brazil’s most influential players of his generation.

SOFASCORE:
Well, folks, we are here with Raphinha, live from Barcelona’s training centre. Raphinha, welcome. Thank you for speaking with us. Are you happy? Are you prepared?

RAPHINHA:
Thank you, I appreciate the invitation. I am prepared.

SOFASCORE:
To start, as a warm-up, I’d like you to talk a little about your current season. You ended up getting injured, but you’re back now. How is your moment at Barcelona?

RAPHINHA:
I prefer to say that my season starts after my injury. There were some games before, but they were games where I was still struggling for some reason. Shortly after that, I had the injury and relapses from the injury. So I prefer to point out that my season itself is starting now.

Read more: Raphinha in exclusive interview: “With the season I had, I should have won the Ballon d’Or”

Becoming a Barcelona Captain

SOFASCORE:
You are one of the captains of this Barcelona squad. We always see you as a very present, very respected figure. What is it like for you to wear the Barça captain’s armband?

RAPHINHA:
I feel very honoured to be able to wear the captain’s armband.
Obviously, it’s something I’ve earned since the day I arrived, because of the way I am, the person I am in the dressing room and on the pitch.

But it’s something natural. I try to help my teammates as much as possible, I try to help them perform at their best. So I think it isn’t forced — it’s very natural. In the end, it has rewarded me with being one of the captains of the team and, on various occasions, being able to wear the armband.

Receiving Two Sofascore Trophies

SOFASCORE:
Well, everyone, this is a moment I’ve been looking forward to. Last season, Raphinha was a beast. He won two Sofascore trophies. Best player of La Liga with a 7.80 Sofascore Rating, and best player of the Champions League with an 8.24 Sofascore Rating. We’re going to give him the trophy now.
Man, you know getting a high rating on Sofascore is difficult, right?

RAPHINHA:
Yes, I noticed that this season.

SOFASCORE:
So, what is it like for you to receive two trophies from Sofascore?

RAPHINHA:
Man, it’s really cool. As you said, it’s a platform that is very demanding with players and with ratings. So being able to receive these trophies — both for best player in the League and best player in the Champions League — is really cool.

Because it means that, in some way, I managed to deliver what Sofascore was expecting from me.
So I am very happy and grateful.

Thinking About Life After Football

SOFASCORE:
Now, slightly deviating from the topic… I know you’re still very young to think about what you’ll do afterwards, but have you thought about staying in football as a manager, a coach? Does that cross your mind?

RAPHINHA:
It does — but coaching? No way.

SOFASCORE:
Why?

RAPHINHA:
Because being a coach, for us players, is already something very demanding. Arriving early at the club, leaving late, staying in hotels the day before matches. Many times we return home a day later, depending on airports. We barely stay at home. For me, that’s already complicated.

And being a coach… you have to be there before the players, leave after the players, prepare training sessions, prepare for matches. Practically your entire life is work. And I don’t think that’s fair to your family and friends. There has to be a middle ground, and the life of a coach is very demanding.

There are people who like it — I don’t judge — but personally it’s not something that crosses my mind.

SOFASCORE:
Being involved with football in another way, maybe?

RAPHINHA:
Yes, who knows? Maybe as a manager, advisor… I don’t know. I have no idea.

SOFASCORE:
It hasn’t crossed your mind today?

RAPHINHA:
It crosses my mind, obviously. But nothing concrete. It’s something distant. I try to think of something, but being a coach… if it ever were an option, it would be the last one.

Relationship With Hansi Flick

SOFASCORE:
Alright. You mentioned forgetting about being a coach because of the heavy routine. Recently we saw a video that caught a lot of attention — Hansi Flick looking emotional, maybe crying. You were there chatting with him, calming him down. What happened there? What is your relationship with Flick like?

RAPHINHA:
Well, in almost every interview when I’m asked about him, I say he was the one who practically made me have the best season of my career. He made me compete for individual awards. He made me understand my place in football again, understand myself as a person.

Much of what happened last season, and what is happening now, is thanks to him — he believed in me when I think no one else did, not even myself.

So I can only thank him for everything that has happened to me, everything that is happening. I can only be grateful.

About that scene… I think he was upset with his assistant, who was sent off. There were two red cards on our bench. He was upset.

Later he said he was also unhappy with the team’s performance. I tried to reassure him, saying we would come back, that we were reconnecting again, and that the most important thing in that moment was the team’s victory — which we achieved.

And I think we are reconnecting once again.

SOFASCORE:
It’s really nice, this closeness you have with him. You can see he respects you, the affection, and you end up being a link between coach, staff, and players. Do you realise how awesome that is?

RAPHINHA:
No. I have no idea.
Like I told you at the beginning, it’s natural. It’s not forced. It’s a relationship that developed over time — a mutual affection on both sides.

It’s a trust we’ve been building, a freedom we created. He feels free to talk to me about anything, and he also makes me feel free to talk to him about anything.

That trust is the most important thing for us to work in the best way possible.

Looking Back at the Last Season

SOFASCORE:
We didn’t get to talk about this yet — what assessment do you make of last season? The season that awarded you two Sofascore trophies, took Barça to the Champions League semi-final, and was incredible for you. Did you feel you could have reached the final?

RAPHINHA:
Yes, that feeling was there. I think we had one foot in the final from the moment we scored the third goal.

Unfortunately, we didn’t have enough maturity to do what more experienced teams do. After the third goal, the game should have been over — defend, don’t concede. At that moment we had one foot in the final.

I think we got carried away by the game, it became more open, we didn’t know how to control it, and we conceded the equaliser. Playing in their stadium, with the result shifting in their favour, with their fans… it’s very complicated.

SOFASCORE:
And what’s your evaluation of Barça’s season and your own, aside from the semi-final?

RAPHINHA:
Apart from the semi-final, which affected us, I think it was practically an impeccable season for the team. It’s no coincidence that we won all the national titles.

In my opinion, we had an absurd season with absurd numbers. There’s that feeling that something was missing, something that was in our hands. But overall, it was a season of very high excellence.

Keeping Barça’s Level High

SOFASCORE:
How do you maintain that chemistry? Because you win, the team wins, amazing titles… and then keeping that level the following season is hard. What’s the secret?

RAPHINHA:
Having many new players is very important. They want to write their name in the club’s history, win titles, win the Champions League. These are their goals.

To write history, to be remembered, to be a role model.

The fact that there are many new people helps a lot. They see what we achieved last year, how beautiful it was — the support, the celebrations, the city stopping for us.

This feeling of “we can do more next season” is important.

On His Injury

SOFASCORE:
You mentioned your injury, that you felt a bit guilty because you may have rushed your return. Explain to us what this injury was. Is everything fine now?

RAPHINHA:
My injury was very minor. So minor that I got injured in the game and the next day I wasn’t feeling anything — but the injury was still there.

Three or four days later I was on the pitch working with a ball — controlled work, but already doing change-of-direction drills.

Because I was feeling good, I thought I could push a little more. And that’s where a minor injury deceives you. That’s exactly when it is healing. If you do more than you should, you break the healing process, reopen the wound, and then you go back to square one — as if the injury started from scratch.

This happened to me twice. In that first week, when I thought everything was fine and it wasn’t. And then again in the week of El Clásico, when I wanted to push, to prove to myself that I could play. But I ended up proving myself wrong. I rushed earlier than necessary, and it happened again, so I was out for another three weeks.

SOFASCORE:
But is it alright now?

RAPHINHA:
Now I’m fine.

SOFASCORE:
Are you back to normal?

RAPHINHA:
I’m fine. I’m fine! I’m not back to normal, but I’m fine.

Fear of Setbacks and the World Cup on the Horizon

SOFASCORE:
Right, because we start to think — the World Cup is coming. We just saw Militão get injured and he might only return in April. I imagine that, putting myself in your shoes, I would also be afraid of getting injured.

Obviously there’s a commitment to the club, you are professionals, but the World Cup carries huge weight in every player’s career. Does this cross your mind?

RAPHINHA:
There’s no way it doesn’t cross your mind. Last year, in the last cycle, I remember Coutinho completed almost the entire cycle with us. And he had an injury at the end of the season — I can’t remember if he was already in Brazil. I don’t think so.

So it was mid-season for him, maybe. And he had a pre-World Cup injury that prevented him from being in the World Cup.

So, it’s normal for us, with the World Cup in mind, to think about what might happen or not.

But we need to be physically prepared. In the best way possible. We have to prepare, take care of ourselves as much as possible.

Not that we weren’t already doing that — I personally take great care of myself. I practically live in recovery. But some things you cannot control. Sometimes the body demands too much; there’s physical wear, mental wear, and some injuries happen that you simply cannot stop, even when you take care of yourself more than enough.

It still happened to me. So it’s something you can’t control. You can only try to minimise risks. But controlling 100% whether it will happen or not… that’s beyond your control.

What you can control is recovery, training well, being prepared physically and mentally. And I think all players will be doing that, not just because of the World Cup, but because they want to be playing regularly.

But yes — it’s normal for it to cross your mind, and normal to want to be in perfect condition to perform well in the World Cup.

Top Three Things Every Professional Player Must Prioritise

SOFASCORE:
If you had to choose the top three things a professional player must do to always be well, what would you choose? Sleep? Nutrition? Things that change everything if you don’t follow them strictly?

RAPHINHA:
Work — work ethic is the most important. Recovery.

Recovery in a broad sense: sleep, nutrition, physiotherapy. And mental strength.

I think those are the three main points. There may be others that I’m forgetting, but those three are very important.

Playing for Brazil and Preparing for a Second World Cup

SOFASCORE:
How is it now, thinking that the World Cup is approaching? In my opinion, you’re already one of the names in Ancelotti’s mind. What is it like to play for Brazil and then suddenly think about competing in another World Cup?

RAPHINHA:
Man, it’s… it’s pretty crazy.

Before I was first called up for the national team, I never imagined I would be called up. I never imagined wearing the national team shirt. Did I want to? I really wanted to. But I didn’t see myself there.

I didn’t see the circumstances in my favour. And then it happened — the result of many years of work. I ended up going to the World Cup.

Being able to compete in a second World Cup is also crazy. Because, okay, you went to the first one. But reaching the next one requires four more years of absurd consistency. You have to be at your best level on and off the pitch.

You have to stay in shape, deliver good work, keep getting called up, and then be in the next World Cup.

So going through this whole cycle again — with many pros and cons — is really nice. It’s gratifying, because I delivered everything I could during those four years.

Obviously there are still about six months to go, and I still have to deliver my best to be there.

But knowing I was part of almost the entire cycle again, with three or four different coaches, shows that something is being done very well individually.

And that I contribute something to the national team to stay there through the whole cycle.

Brazil’s World Cup Group: Respect and Realism

SOFASCORE:
Rapha, what did you think of Brazil’s group? Morocco, Haiti and Scotland. What did you think?

RAPHINHA:
Yesterday someone asked me the same thing.

When Morocco came out, I confess I was… well, many people think football today is like it was 15 years ago — when many times you stepped onto the pitch and just the shirt won the game.

Today football is very different.

Many players play at a high level in big clubs, even those from national teams that don’t have a strong name.

But the name deceives the viewer. People say “Brazil will play Haiti” and think it will be easy. A given. And it isn’t.

They qualified for the World Cup — they deserve to be there.

I prefer to approach every game as the most difficult. Morocco is the most difficult. Then Haiti, the most difficult. And so on. It keeps concentration high.

SOFASCORE:
So you think it’s a fair group? No group of death?

RAPHINHA:
I don’t think there is a group of death. Some groups are harder, yes, but they are all balanced in some way.

And now with more teams qualifying — top two and eight best third-placed — it creates more opportunities. There’s even a stage before the round of 16.

So it ends up being easier.

SOFASCORE:
But you liked Brazil’s group? Is it OK?

RAPHINHA:
I liked it. I liked it.

And Morocco was a semi-finalist in the last World Cup — a sensation, an absurd generation.

People say “the day Brazil is afraid of Morocco, give up.” But it’s not about fear — it’s respect.

We must respect every team, but also know our potential.

If we are truly focused, working together, our chances of winning against any team are much greater.

But if we think we can just step on the pitch and win because of the shirt… we won’t.

World Cup Favourites

SOFASCORE:
I’m not going to ask about Brazil. Which teams do you think are favourites to win the World Cup?

RAPHINHA:
France. Argentina. Spain. Even England is doing very well.

There are many teams that are favourites.

But the World Cup is short. The team that is best prepared — not throughout the whole tournament, but on match days — advances.

You can play well for weeks, but if you’re bad on the decisive day, you’re out.

So it doesn’t matter if you’ve been great before. If you fail on the key day, you don’t advance.

Friendlies Against Croatia and France

SOFASCORE:
In March we have the last friendlies — Croatia and France. Good tests even if they are friendlies?

RAPHINHA:
Yes. We’ve been doing good tests. Playing against teams that will be in the World Cup.

These matches will show us our level, and what we still need to improve to arrive in the best possible shape.

SOFASCORE:
How do you imagine these matches?

RAPHINHA:
They will be good matches. As we respect all teams, I believe all teams respect Brazil too — which is important.

Working With Ancelotti and Goals for 2026

SOFASCORE:
What is it like working with Ancelotti? Why is he different?

RAPHINHA:
He surprised me a lot, in a positive way. I hadn’t had much contact with him before. But when we spoke, he always seemed like a great guy.

In the national team, the way he works, the way the staff works, how close he is to players — it’s similar to Flick.

After his arrival, we started reconnecting again. We’ve been playing well. I think we can grow even more.

SOFASCORE:
To finish this part of the questions… if you could make a list of goals for 2026, what would they be?

RAPHINHA:
For next year?
Win the Supercup.
Win all three national titles again — Supercup, Copa del Rey, La Liga.
Win the Champions League.
Win the World Cup.

This is the perfect year.

SOFASCORE:
Will you work with these goals?

RAPHINHA:
You have to. Playing for Barcelona and, in my opinion, the biggest national team in the world — your goals must be these.

If your main goal is just “participate and see what happens,” you’re in the wrong place.

In my view, personal and collective goals must be to win all possible titles.

SOFASCORE:
Good, I like it. Did you like Raphael’s goals? Leave it in the comments.

Ballon d’Or Snub

SOFASCORE:
Your season was absurd — unanimous. But in the Ballon d’Or, you weren’t even in the top 3. How was it for you?

RAPHINHA:
I was upset. I expected more. I expected to be in the top 3 at least.

I knew winning would be difficult because the Champions League weighs a lot.

So I was upset with the position I ended in.

But I understand it involves many things I cannot control. Many things that are complicated to keep highlighting.

What I can say is that I’m very satisfied with the season I had — and no individual award will erase what I did last season.

SOFASCORE:
And what would your top 3 be? If you could choose at that moment — the season has ended — what would your top 3 Ballon d’Or be? You’d place yourself in third, right?

RAPHINHA:
Myself, personally, I would place myself first.

SOFASCORE:
First?

RAPHINHA:
I would place myself in first place! Stop making that little noise! If it were… in my understanding… it’s a tic.
It is my understanding that an individual award cannot be based on a single competition.

Based on that, I think I deserved to be first for what I delivered during the season, for the titles I won, for the numbers I achieved, and for everything I contributed on the pitch. I think I deserved to win.

As it is an award that is practically based on a single competition, Dembélé deserved to win, especially since he also had a spectacular season. Lamine also had a spectacular season.

But, in my view, if it were something based on the season itself, I think I deserved to win the award.

SOFASCORE:
Well, that’s fine. That is Raphinha’s top 3. It would be you… second… who would be next?

RAPHINHA:
Ah, I will pull for my team. I would place Lamine and Pedri.

SOFASCORE:
Okay. Third as well, Pedri? Then Dembélé is fourth, right?

RAPHINHA:
Fourth. Okay, fine. Fair enough.

Rating Himself with Sofascore’s Attributes

SOFASCORE:
Well, now Rapha will rank himself. We took the same scores from Sofascore — from 3 to 10 — in various attributes. So it’s there on the tablet with him, and he will start ranking himself.

Starting with speed. Three is very bad, three is terrible. 10 is the best.
You start talking and making comments. So, let’s go. Start.

Speed

RAPHINHA:
Speed… I… let me see. I am fast, but there are faster people. I’m not as fast as them.
I would give it 9.1.

SOFASCORE:
Wow, crazy. Good. Wow, fast. Talk a little about this speed attribute.

RAPHINHA:
I think it’s one of my strong points, speed.
Obviously today I’m not as fast as I was three years ago, but—

SOFASCORE:
As if you’re old, right?

RAPHINHA:
No, but I’m slower.

SOFASCORE:
Do you feel it?

RAPHINHA:
I feel it, I feel it. But still…

SOFASCORE:
So before, you’d give yourself a 10? For speed?

RAPHINHA:
Ah, in my… in my… in my prime, like—

SOFASCORE:
Buddy, you’re still in your prime!

RAPHINHA:
No, in my prime of speed. I would put, I don’t know… a 9.9, perhaps.
But today I would put 9.1, because… ah, I’m a bit fast.

Stamina

SOFASCORE:
Fair enough. Go on. Next — stamina.

RAPHINHA:
Stamina… 9.

SOFASCORE:
Nine?

RAPHINHA:
Yes. Because physically I think… I try to take care of myself as much as possible, to be as well prepared as possible for the match.
So I always try to maintain the highest physical conditioning level possible. I would give it a 9.

SOFASCORE:
Yeah, in the match against Frankfurt — which was yesterday, in fact — I see you running all over the pitch. Man, you sprinted, then you’re going on another sprint. How do you manage?

RAPHINHA:
Yeah… sometimes I can’t manage. Like now, coming back from an injury.

SOFASCORE:
Does the screen go black sometimes? Like, wow.

RAPHINHA:
Depending on the amount, in a short time it gives some crazy dizziness.
But it’s part of it. It will pass soon.

Technique

SOFASCORE:
Good. Go. Technique.

RAPHINHA:
Technique… I would give it 8.6.

SOFASCORE:
Comment on that. Justify your answer.

RAPHINHA:
I can’t give myself a 3 for technique. That would be too harsh.

SOFASCORE:
No, wait a minute. We are talking about the minimum and a fair score—

RAPHINHA:
8.7.
Nowadays I think I am much more technical than, for example, a player who seeks 1v1 situations.

For instance, three years ago, or when I was at Leeds, I was a player who sought 1v1 situations much more.
However, technically, I think I lacked a lot.

Nowadays, I see myself more as a technical player than a few years ago.
So, I would give it an 8.7.

Tactical Role and Positioning

SOFASCORE:
And how did you work on that?

RAPHINHA:
Because of the speed as well. And because of positioning on the pitch.
Nowadays I play in a more compact position, which requires a bit more speed to think and find some passes that, perhaps, when playing wide, you don’t need as much speed to think — even though a lot of speed is still required.
But I think this aspect changes a bit.

SOFASCORE:
And you also keep swapping with Yamal. Do you guys signal to each other when you need to swap?

RAPHINHA:
I, personally, see a lot where there are gaps on the pitch.
For example, when I see that a player has left their position, I try to cover that position that is lacking.

Sometimes I see that he positions himself inside — I don’t know, because he carried the ball and stayed there — I position myself in his place so we always have the positions occupied.

Vision

SOFASCORE:
Good. Go on. Next — vision.

RAPHINHA:
Game vision… 8.7 as well.

SOFASCORE:
Raphinha is getting even here on Sofascore, because now he can give whatever rating he wants. He is up in the clouds.

RAPHINHA:
8.7, obviously… One thing has nothing to do with the other.
One thing is having game vision and being able to see the game well and spot good passes.
Another thing is being able to execute that pass perfectly.

I can have spectacular vision, see something, and then mess it up — with the pass going either too far or too short. And that’s that.

The folks at Sofascore take points off me, and thank you very much for that. That’s it.

SOFASCORE:
There will be passing here.

RAPHINHA:
That’s not cool.

Long Passing and Defensive Work

SOFASCORE:
So, calm down. But I think game vision… I think this is going to be a mistake, right?

RAPHINHA:
No, it’s just that in the end—

SOFASCORE:
Will there be a comparison later?

RAPHINHA:
No — this will become the rating, the average, you know?

SOFASCORE:
I want to see it.

RAPHINHA:
And then there are the other interviewees — but there is, for example, a fighter. You shouldn’t compare yourself to others, because each one gave their own score in other categories.
For example, a player’s score is not the same as a journalist’s. Like Fabrizio Romano was interviewed, you understand?

RAPHINHA:
I will rate myself high up.
It will all be above 8, alright?

SOFASCORE:
Alright. Take it easy. But you have to justify it.

Long Pass

RAPHINHA:
Long pass… good. 9.

SOFASCORE:
No, hold on. It already started to go crazy, it already went from 8 to 9.

RAPHINHA:
No — long pass, I have a good long pass.

SOFASCORE:
Of course.

RAPHINHA:
I have a good long pass.
There isn’t much explanation. I have a good long pass. That’s it. It’s over. Kiss goodbye.

SOFASCORE:
But I need an explanation for the long pass. Just to chat a little here, right? Keep it going. Not just “long pass, bye!”

RAPHINHA:
Yes, but the long pass will be like this.

SOFASCORE:
Alright.

RAPHINHA:
There isn’t much explanation.

Tackle

SOFASCORE:
Go on — tackle.

RAPHINHA:
Tackle… I don’t think I am someone who tackles much, but my attitude on the pitch helps the next player make the tackle.

SOFASCORE:
You facilitate the tackling of others?

RAPHINHA:
I facilitate the tackling, but would the tackling here be me tackling?
No. So I would put, I don’t know… 7.4, 7.5.

SOFASCORE:
But that’s because you don’t execute it much.

RAPHINHA:
Because I don’t execute the tackle… but my next teammate, I think he finds it easier to tackle because of the imbalance I caused there.
7.5.

RAPHINHA:
But I don’t really tackle much.

Dribbling, Crossing, and Finishing

SOFASCORE:
Dribbling?

RAPHINHA:
Nowadays? 7.9 just to graduate.

As I told you… nowadays I don’t see myself as a dribbling player, even though sometimes a little something comes out.
But I don’t see myself as a dribbler. I see myself more as a playmaker, with more positioning on the pitch and in the area, than a dribbler per se.

Those who have dribbled don’t forget how to do it, but I don’t consider myself a dribbler.
7.9.

SOFASCORE:
Remember you put all the rest way up high. You need to see what average rating you want — but no problem. You have to be fair.

RAPHINHA:
I will be fair with myself.
But I won’t put anything below 7.

Crossing

RAPHINHA:
Crossing… 8.5.

I think that when I reach the final third — when I reach the goal line of the pitch — I believe I have a very high success rate in terms of where I want to cross.
Being able to look for a teammate and get the cross right.

Even though many times the opponent takes the ball, the point I tried to cross was really what I wanted to do.
So I think I would rate crossing as 8.5.

SOFASCORE:
Good.

Finishing

SOFASCORE:
Finishing.

RAPHINHA:
Finishing… 8.5 as well.
I think that I finish very well, but… I think many times I relax too much and end up making mistakes in things that, in my view, I shouldn’t make mistakes in.

I am very self-critical, but I believe I still have a lot to improve in terms of finishing.
But even so, I believe I am a good finisher.

SOFASCORE:
What do you think still needs to improve?

RAPHINHA:
Ah, I think I need to be more focused.
For example, yesterday there was a moment where, in my view, I was really hard on myself because I think I should have scored that goal. Understand?

So there are moments of concentration where I often think it’s so easy that I relax.
And then, in that relaxation, I end up making mistakes.

SOFASCORE:
Okay. It’s a matter of detail, but it’s important — body and mind awareness, knowing the whole body is tense to finish, right?

RAPHINHA:
Yes, exactly. So 8.5.

Shooting, Set Pieces, and Final Rating

RAPHINHA:
Shooting power — 9.

Even though I am quite slim, I have very high shooting power.

SOFASCORE:
Have you ever played that little game? Like… the ball in a machine that measures speed? Do you know it?

RAPHINHA:
I’ve looked for it, but I’ve never found it.

SOFASCORE:
Ah right, over at PSG the boys had a little party like that.

RAPHINHA:
No, there’s nothing like that here.

SOFASCORE:
No, it wasn’t the club. They rented a little place, arranged it—

RAPHINHA:
Yes, no, it’s like a place outside, right?

SOFASCORE:
That’s right.

RAPHINHA:
No, no… there isn’t one here.
I remember that Paredes used to beat everyone.

Yeah, no, but I have a very powerful shot. Not to score a perfect 10, but 9.
Given my physical profile — thin legs — it tends to surprise a lot of people.
So I put it at 9.

Shot Precision

RAPHINHA:
Shot precision… I think that depends a lot.
It depends a lot on the finishing.

SOFASCORE:
Yes, it’s somewhat linked.

RAPHINHA:
And based on the relaxation… I don’t know… 8.3.

SOFASCORE:
8.3 — I think that’s a good score.

RAPHINHA:
It’s almost green, but not quite green. 8.3.

Set Piece

RAPHINHA:
Set piece… 8.8.

I don’t think there’s much explanation. I think it’s a nice number.

SOFASCORE:
The videos are there, right? Just watch “Set Pieces by Raphinha.”
Not finish it off.

RAPHINHA:
There are some good things.

Final Rating

RAPHINHA:
My score? Here is my rating: 8.5. I think it’s fair.

SOFASCORE:
Is it good?

RAPHINHA:
It’s good. I like it.

SOFASCORE:
You wanted it to be higher than 8, right?

RAPHINHA:
Yeah, it’s a passing grade. It’s a good rating. I like the number 8 and it’s in blue — looks good.
So, it’s fair.

Picking the Best Players for Each Attribute

SOFASCORE:
Now let’s do the same thing, but you don’t need to use the iPad. I will tell you an attribute, just like when you ranked yourself, and you will say the first player that comes to your mind — and why. A little sentence. Is that alright?

RAPHINHA:
Sure.

SOFASCORE:
Here we go. Three, two, one… Speed.

RAPHINHA:
Rashford.

SOFASCORE:
This little sentence is what kills me.

RAPHINHA:
Dude, I already knew him from the Premier, and I already thought he was very fast. But being around him in training and in matches…
I have no words to explain.
It’s absurd — the power he has in taking off, in his speed.

SOFASCORE:
Alright. And stamina?

RAPHINHA:
Pedri. Yes, Pedri — there’s no way. Pedri is everywhere on the pitch and at an absurd intensity.

SOFASCORE:
Technique?

RAPHINHA:
Pedri as well.

SOFASCORE:
Really? It doesn’t have to be just—

RAPHINHA:
No, come on, it doesn’t have to be just— here. Your mind comes to it.

RAPHINHA:
Let me see…
No, that’s fine. It can be Pedri.

SOFASCORE:
That’s fair. It’s your opinion.

RAPHINHA:
Yes, no. It’s just that—

SOFASCORE:
It’s just that what, Rapha?

RAPHINHA:
No, come on. I’m going with Pedri.
I’m going with Pedri. I’m going with Pedri.

SOFASCORE:
Vision.

RAPHINHA:
Vision, vision…
I would put Pedri again, but I’m going to put Ney.
Because, for me, he’s an absurd player. His understanding on the pitch and the things he sees on the pitch are something absurd.

SOFASCORE:
Alright. Long pass.

RAPHINHA:
Long pass…
Casemiro.

SOFASCORE:
Tackle.

RAPHINHA:
Casemiro. There isn’t a lot to say. The pitch shows it all.
He gives us a sense of security when we’re next to him. It’s absurd.
We know that either the ball will pass or the player will pass.
So, for me, that’s extremely important.

SOFASCORE:
Dribbling.

RAPHINHA:
Lamine.

I don’t need to say more.
And if I try to explain, I think I’ll ruin it.
I don’t need to. He’s a phenomenon.

SOFASCORE:
Crossing.

RAPHINHA:
Jordi Alba.

SOFASCORE:
Finishing.

RAPHINHA:
From afar or up close?

SOFASCORE:
The same as you evaluated yourself.

RAPHINHA:
The same as I evaluated myself?

SOFASCORE:
You can choose. Justify the answer. Think.

RAPHINHA:
Let me think a little bit.
Dude, I think of a moment that surprised me a lot…
I think I’m going to put Lewandowski, like…
Because his finishing quality is absurd.

SOFASCORE:
Shooting power.

RAPHINHA:
Rashford.

SOFASCORE:
Shooting precision.

RAPHINHA:
Shooting precision…
Ney.

SOFASCORE:
And set pieces.

RAPHINHA:
Is he one of those currently playing?

SOFASCORE:
It’s whoever comes to your mind.

RAPHINHA:
It could also be from the past, but now it’s the last one, so…

Set pieces?
Wow.

SOFASCORE:
It doesn’t have to be from the current ones.

RAPHINHA:
It’s what comes to your mind.

I thought this was from the current ones.
No, that’s fine.

Man, I’m going to…
It’s that you can divide it, right?
You can put Ney in, you can put Messi in…
You can put Ronaldinho in…

But if I first think of set pieces — close my eyes — who comes to mind?

They all come together.
They all come together, they lift off the ground, the three of them.

Yes.

I’m going to put Messi for set pieces.

And in terms of game vision, I think I would also include Busquets.
I just remembered.
It was… different.
He was absurd.

The Most Underrated Teammates

SOFASCORE:
Who is the most underrated player you have shared the pitch with?
The one that people don’t pay much attention to, or perhaps doesn’t get the appreciation they deserve, but you think, “wow, I know he’s different because I’ve shared the pitch with him.”
Who would that player be?

RAPHINHA:
Because I’ve played with loads of people…

SOFASCORE:
Yes, but some you think, “man, how can no one appreciate him?”
Or doesn’t appreciate him as much as—
You know, that famous Brazilian saying: pouca mídia, muito futebol.

RAPHINHA:
Pedri is one, but I think…
Yes, Pedri surprised me, because you talk a lot about Pedri. It would be nice for you to explain.

RAPHINHA:
Yes, but I think people see it — it’s more the people here in Barcelona who follow the matches more.
So much so that he is practically praised in every match.

SOFASCORE:
Yes, but maybe from the big—

RAPHINHA:
But I don’t know, right? Outside of here, how he is viewed.

If I said that people don’t appreciate him, I would be lying, because what I see here is absurd.
I don’t know how he is viewed outside, but if he isn’t seen in the same way outside of Spain as he is in Spain, I would include Pedri.

For example, he doesn’t have absurd numbers for assists, goals, but he is the most important guy on the pitch for our team.

SOFASCORE:
What do you see, from a closer perspective, that fans might not see?

RAPHINHA:
Man, Pedri…
Pedri disarms, he makes plays, he defends, he attacks, he passes.

I would say “pre-assist,” which I think should have a high value for Sofascore — so, an idea for you guys.
Get the feedback there.

Pre-assist — the key pass.
That pass where the man next to you just rolls it for the other to score.
It counts as an assist for him, but the phenomenal pass you made doesn’t count.

He provides assists, scores goals, and so on, but he manages to control the game in a way that most players don’t have the understanding of — knowing when to go, when to calm the game down, when to speed up.

For me, he is a very complete player who doesn’t have the value he should have.

The Most Complete Player He Has Played With

SOFASCORE:
And aside from Pedri — who is the most complete player you’ve played with?
The guy who makes you think, “this is the combo right here.”
He’d be in your Ultimate Team.

RAPHINHA:
More complete that I’ve played together with?
Complete meaning all the attributes — like, sometimes this guy just attacks.
This one we’re talking about, he attacks and defends.
He’s like Pedri, everywhere on the pitch, knows how to behave.

He’s like Pedri, but since you’ve already talked about him, I wanted to hear another one — someone very complete, that you said, “goodness… this guy is absurd.”

RAPHINHA:
Cunha.

SOFASCORE:
Matheus Cunha?

RAPHINHA:
Matheus Cunha.
I think he… like… absurd.
I also think he doesn’t have the value he should have.
He’s not recognised in the way he should be.

Because for me he is a guy who defends well, pressures well, attacks well, is in constant movement on the pitch, gives you options at your feet, gives you options in space.

He has goals, he has assists, he is a fighter.
And many times, for not having numbers — numbers meaning goals, assists.

But as I said, he has the pre-assist, he has, suddenly, a pressure that makes the opponent lose the ball leading to a goal.

For me, these are very important things that are not seen as a goal or an assist — but are just as important.

So I think I would also place him in this “complete player” category.
It turns out he could also fit into the other category — the underestimated one.

Childhood Idols

SOFASCORE:
Good. And who was your childhood idol?

RAPHINHA:
From childhood — Ronaldinho.
It’s complicated, right?
Because you talk about childhood, but I started following Ney when I was 15.

But he was also… bloody hell… he was 18, right? 19, I don’t know.
17, when he started.

SOFASCORE:
Childhood Ronaldinho, and adolescence?

RAPHINHA:
A lot of childhood Ronaldinho, pre-adolescence.
I started following Neymar quite a bit — he was at the end of Ronaldinho’s career, and the beginning of Ney.

But the guys that I…

Man, I had a tablet with loads of videos downloaded — clips of Ronaldinho, goals, assists — and, consequently, of Ney as well.

SOFASCORE:
And you’d memorise them to try to replicate?

RAPHINHA:
Before the games, I would be—
No, not trying to replicate, but I would be watching.

SOFASCORE:
As inspiration, right?

RAPHINHA:
Bloody hell, people.
Because sometimes it gives you an insight in the moment of the game — you say: wow, that movement, that cut there… I don’t know, right? I don’t know.

They are the two guys who were and are my benchmark to this day.

SOFASCORE:
Good.

This interview is just the beginning. In the next part, Raphinha goes even deeper into his football journey, with new stories and fresh insights. Stay tuned for Part 2, coming soon.