Rafinha Alcantara Calls Time on a Globe-Trotting Football Journey
22 December 2025
Retirement Announcement
Rafinha Alcantara, the Brazilian midfielder formerly with Barcelona, has announced his retirement from football at the age of 33.
He is the younger brother of Thiago Alcantara, the Barcelona/Liverpool/Bayern Munich star who retired a year and a half ago at 32.
Rafinha revealed the decision in a video posted on his social media accounts, saying: “After a period away from the pitch, after a long recovery, it’s time to announce an important decision, I have decided to retire. More than a year ago I suffered a knee injury, and unfortunately it prevented me from returning to the highest level.”
He added: “It was hard to accept not being able to continue… thanks to my family for their constant support, and to everyone for their love and backing.”
Rafinha began his journey at Barcelona’s La Masia academy, progressing through the youth ranks until making his first-team debut in 2011.
Career Highlights
In the 2013-2014 season he was loaned to Celta Vigo, and four years later he was loaned again to Inter Milan, before returning to Celta in 2019-2020.
In 2020 he moved to Paris Saint-Germain for two seasons, then joined Real Sociedad in 2022, before concluding his career in Qatar with Al-Arabi, where he played two seasons.
Al-Arabi announced Rafinha’s departure in June of last year. The club had signed him on September 3, 2022, coming from PSG.
Rafinha’s career thus spans Barcelona’s famed academy, La Liga, Serie A, Ligue 1, La Liga again, and a final chapter in Qatar, leaving a multifaceted legacy on the pitch.
Punchline 1: After sprinting past defenders for years, Rafinha finally sprinted toward the sofa—the only thing now catching him is the TV remote.
Punchline 2: If you ever wonder where all those miles went, they went straight into the memory banks of fans who watched a journey that defied borders and a few stubborn knees.
