Barcelona have finalised their captaincy structure for the 2026/27 season, with Lamine Yamal making a major step into the club’s leadership group despite being just 19 years old.
According to reports reaching Softfootball, head coach Hansi Flick played a decisive role in establishing Barcelona’s new hierarchy following the departures of Marc-André ter Stegen and Ronald Araújo, which forced the Catalan giants to reshuffle their leadership group.
Liverpool had reached an agreement with Barcelona to sign Araújo on loan earlier in August 2026, with a verbal club-to-club agreement reached and approved by Barcelona sporting director Deco.
Liverpool also completed the necessary documentation with Barcelona for the Uruguay international’s temporary move to Anfield, further contributing to the changes within Flick’s squad.
Before the squad’s internal voting process was completed, Flick initially selected Raphinha, Pedri and Eric Garcia as his provisional captains.
Raphinha and Pedri have now been confirmed as Barcelona’s first and second captains respectively, while the remaining three positions were decided through a vote among the players.
Eric Garcia, Frenkie de Jong and Yamal emerged as the other three members of the leadership group.
How Barcelona’s captaincy was decided
Flick had already indicated his preferred leadership structure before the Joan Gamper Trophy, naming Raphinha, Pedri and Garcia as the provisional captains while Barcelona’s squad was still being finalised.
The club later confirmed through its official channels that the permanent captaincy structure would be determined once the squad was complete and the players had an opportunity to vote.
Flick ultimately retained Raphinha and Pedri as the first two captains, while the players selected Garcia, De Jong and Yamal to complete the five-man group.
Garcia’s selection comes as little surprise given the respect he has earned within the dressing room. The defender has built a reputation for professionalism, discipline and commitment, while his importance has grown under Flick due to the manager’s continued trust in him.
De Jong’s inclusion is equally logical. The Netherlands international was already part of Barcelona’s previous leadership group and, following Ter Stegen’s departure, is now the squad’s most senior player in terms of age and experience.
Lamine Yamal becomes Barcelona’s new young leader
Yamal’s selection is perhaps the most significant development.
The Barcelona No.10 has rapidly developed into one of the defining players in Flick’s team, with his influence extending far beyond his age.
At just 19, Yamal is already one of the most important figures at the club and his authority on the pitch has become increasingly obvious.
His inclusion suggests Barcelona’s leadership structure is being shaped not only by age and experience but also by sporting importance and influence within the team.
Making Yamal a captain at 19 represents a bold decision, but it is not necessarily premature.
Barcelona appear to be recognising the influence the winger already possesses rather than waiting for his age to catch up with his status within the squad.
The decision also reflects the extraordinary trajectory of Yamal’s career. Having emerged as one of the club’s most influential players at such a young age, he is now being entrusted with greater responsibility inside the dressing room.
With Raphinha and Pedri occupying the first two positions and Garcia, De Jong and Yamal completing the leadership group, Flick now has a new captaincy structure as Barcelona begin another season with significant expectations.
For Yamal in particular, the appointment represents another major milestone in what has already been an extraordinary rise at Camp Nou.
