Raphinha breaks silence on baseless doping accusations | OneFootball

The 2025/26 season of Raphinha at FC Barcelona was one for the ages. The Brazilian winger firmly established himself as one of the best players in world football, delivering consistently brilliant performances throughout the season. His efforts were officially recognized when he was named the La Liga Player of the Season.

The ex-Leeds United man ended the season with 34 goals and 25 assists in 57 games across all competitions. It was a turnaround for the ages for a player who had struggled to win over the fans until then.

Hansi Flick unlocked a new level in Raphinha, which earned him a lot of praise but also unwarranted allegations from haters.

Now, in an exclusive interview with SPORT, the Barcelona captain has responded directly to the doping accusations that surfaced last season. He said:

Raphinha came under the scanner with these baseless allegations due to the fact that he was seen taping his wrists during games. It is good to see the Brazilian brush it off without much thought.

Every time a player hits new heights, rival fans look for ways to undermine their success. Such conspiracy theories are part of the darker side of social media’s influence, particularly on impressionable young followers.

As Rudyard Kipling famously wrote in his poem If:

Raphinha seems to have mastered this art.

The Brazilian has seen the best and worst of being a Barcelona player during his three seasons here. However, he seems to be marching on past all hurdles with a very calm head over his shoulders.