“Performing in my underwear for like 50 people, that was a totally new experience for me,” says the Brazilian winger, who currently has Barça at the top of the table and will be chasing the World Cup trophy this summer.
Raphinha is gearing up for a big year. Three months into 2026, the 29-year-old Brazilian winger’s club, FC Barcelona, sits atop the table, with only a dozen or so matches left to clinch a second straight La Liga title. Playing for Barça, one of the true giants of European football, means Raphina is no stranger to scrutiny from fans and analysts. But now, thanks to a new Calvin Klein underwear campaign, the fashion world is paying attention to him too. For someone who’s spent a lifetime with a ball at his feet, stepping in front of the camera is far more likely to get this heart racing than performing on the pitch.
“I confess I feel more pressure on the set than playing for a full stadium,” Raphinha told GQ in an exclusive interview. “I’ve played football since I was a kid and love a stadium atmosphere, where I can show my skills and fight to win matches for my club and country. But performing in underwear for like 50 people, that was a totally new experience for me.”
With eight goals already to his name in La Liga this season, Raphinha and teammates Lamine Yamal, Ferrán Torres, and Robert Lewandowski have given Barcelona one of the most potent attacks in the world. This summer, though, Raphinha will briefly hang up Barcelona’s iconic red-and-blue stripes and shift into international mode to represent his native Brazil at the 2026 FIFA World Cup. When the Brazilian squad descends upon New York City in June for their opening game against Morocco at nearby MetLife Stadium, they just might catch a glimpse of their star player on a Calvin Klein billboard.
“I believe my friends and family will be super happy and proud to see the photos,” Raphinha said. “However, as modeling is different from playing football, I tried to learn some new tricks from the CK team, and of course some additional abs and push-ups helped me look sharp in the pics.”
