Carles Puyol i Saforcada (born April 13, 1978 in La Pobla de Segur, Lleida, Catalonia, Spain) is a Spanish footballer who is the current team captain of FC Barcelona. He is a regular in the Spanish national team.

Puyol started playing football in his hometown club, La Pobla de Segur, as a striker after injury problems with his shoulders forced him from his original position of goalkeeper. He went to FC Barcelona B at age 17 in 1996, and in 1999 coach Louis van Gaal promoted him to the first team. His debut occurred on October 2, 1999 against Real Valladolid, a game Barcelona won 0-2. He started in the right-back position, but has since been converted to a central defender. He was awarded "Best European right-back" award by UEFA in 2002.
Puyol was first chosen as the captain of FC Barcelona at the end of 2003-04 season and has also been called upon to captain the Spanish national team.
On May 17, 2006, Barcelona, with Puyol as captain, won the UEFA Champions League, defeating Arsenal 2-1 in the final, becoming the first Catalan captain to raise that trophy. Puyol won the UEFA Champions League defender of the year award for that season.