Ter Stegen loses number in addition to the captaincy at Barça in the midst of a crisis with the club

Marc-André Ter Stegen is left without a number or captaincy at FC Barcelona for the 2025-2026 season, after refusing to sign a key medical report for LaLiga.

Ter Stegen loses number and captaincy at Barça in the midst of an internal crisis

In the latest official list of numbers from LaLiga for the 2025-2026 season, the name of Marc-André Ter Stegen shines... due to its absence. The German goalkeeper, until recently captain and a benchmark between the posts for FC Barcelona, has been left without an assigned number. A rarity in professional football and an unequivocal sign that something smells like gunpowder in the culé dressing room.

Capture from the Official LaLiga Website - Ter Stgen without assigned number

 

 

The spark that lit the fuse was administrative, but with sporting consequences. Ter Stegen refused to sign the consent for the club to send his medical report to the LaLiga medical commission, which is responsible for determining the time off due to injury. A refusal that blocked internal procedures, strained his relationship with the board to the maximum and led to disciplinary proceedings. The punishment was not long in coming: temporary loss of the captaincy and exclusion from the list of official numbers.

Meanwhile, young Pau Cubarsí inherits the number ‘5’ from Íñigo Martínez, who is preparing to leave, and the goal seems to have a new owner. Joan García, signed for 25 million and with a contract until 2031, received the number ‘1’ in preseason, sending a clear message: Barça is already looking towards another goalkeeper. His debut against Vissel Kobe left a good impression, with security, reflexes and good ball handling.

The conflict is not a mere bureaucratic squabble. The lack of a number and his partial removal from the team call into question Ter Stegen's continuity, despite having a contract until 2028. The club is considering his departure to alleviate the wage bill and free up space in the financial 'fair play'.

Outside of Barça, the matter also threatens his status in the German national team ahead of the 2026 World Cup. Julian Nagelsmann has already warned: the starting position is earned with minutes, and now Joan García has all the tickets. Szczęsny, meanwhile, is aiming to be a luxury substitute.

In short, what began as a dispute over a medical paper has become a sporting earthquake. Ter Stegen, who was once the impenetrable wall of the Camp Nou, watches as the goal he dominated for years begins to close... with another key.