Late on Tuesday evening, Barca confirmed in a press release that the newly acquired striker Vitor Roque has been awarded shirt number 19. The 18-year-old Brazilian takes over the shirt from Franck Kessié, who left Barca this summer.
Vitor Roque arrived the other day in Barcelona, where he has been brought to the club from Athletico Paranaense for 30 million euros. Since then, the Brazilian has been busy with medical checks, his first training with the team and various media events.
On Tuesday, Vitor Roque got his new shirt number in Barca and this will be shirt number 19. The Brazilian will be the 19th Barca player in history to wear this exact number. Most recently it was Franck Kessié, who in the 2022/23 season played in number 19, and inside it was Ferran Torres.
In addition to the three aforementioned players, these Barca players have worn shirt number 19: Matheus (2020-21), Braithwaite (2020), Boateng (2019), Munir (2018-19), Digne (2016-17, 2017-18), Sandro (2015-16), Afellay (2013-14), Montoya (2012-13), Maxwell (2009-10, 2010-11, 2011-12), Messi (2005-06 2006-07, 2007-08), Navarro (2004-05), Dani (1999-00, 2000-01, 2001-02, 2002-03), Kluivert (1998-99), Pizzi (1996-97, 1997-98) and Carreras (1995-96) .
Roque is thus following in the footsteps of the world’s best footballer ever, Lionel Messi, who made his debut in Barca’s first team in shirt number 19. Vitor Roque can make his debut for Barca as early as Thursday, when the Catalans visit Las Palmas in La Liga.
