The FIFA World Cup features the best of the best when it comes to soccer players across the world and the Meadowlands will have a front-row seat to watch some of these world-class athletes as they take the field. The first athlete that is being highlighted is Raphinha, a winger for Brazil.
On June 13, 2026, MetLife Stadium will host its first game for the 2026 FIFA World Cup as Brazil faces Morocco. As Brazil takes the field, Raphinha will be one of the team’s keys to victory.
Raphinha’s talents have been well-known for years, as he signed with Ligue 1 club Rennes in 2019 for roughly €21 million, a record signing for the club. During his stint with the club, he scored eight goals and tallied seven assists, while helping lead Rennes to a third-place finish and a qualification into the 2020-21 UEFA Champions League.
Not long after, on Oct. 5, 2020, Raphinha found a new home with Premier League club Leeds United, where he signed a four-year contract. He ended the season as Leeds’ top goalscorer with 11 goals, which led to significant interest from some of the world’s top club teams.
In 2022, Raphinha joined La Liga club Barcelona on a five-year deal, where he would look to make his mark at one of the most prestigious soccer teams in the world. His first few seasons with the club proved to be a struggle, as he was unable to gain momentum and eventually lost his starting role to 18-year-old phenom Lamine Yamal. Despite his struggles, he was still an integral part of the team on its 2023-24 Champions League run, where he contributed to two goals in the team’s victory over Napoli and tallied his first Champions League goal against Paris Saint-Germain.
His struggles were short-lived, however, as from 2024-25, Raphinha has since become one of the top players in the world. On Aug. 31, 2024, he recorded his first hat trick with Barcelona, with his first of the Champions League coming on Oct. 23 of the same year. In his most recent Champions League campaign, Raphinha was the tournament’s joint top goalscorer, a stark contrast from his initial struggles a few years prior.
Raphinha’s international career began when he was chosen to represent Brazil in the 2021 World Cup qualifiers. In his official debut with the team, he propelled the team to victory as a substitute, assisting two goals in a comeback win over Venezuela. Raphina’s impact in just 45 minutes of the match was undeniable and helped earn him a spot on the team’s 2022 FIFA World Cup roster. Brazil made it to the quarter-finals before being eliminated by Croatia, which is certain to leave a chip on Raphinha’s shoulder.
In the 2025 Ballon d’Or voting, which looks to crown the year’s best soccer player, Raphinha finished in fifth place. As he heads to the Meadowlands this summer, he will be in search of his first FIFA World Cup goal as Brazil looks to grab their first World Cup trophy since 2002. Raphinha has grown tremendously as a player since his last appearance in 2022 and is sure to bring more to the table this time around.