Raphinha, the forward for FC Barcelona, started for Brazil in their second match of the 2026 World Cup against Haiti. However, he played only 40 minutes before being substituted due to pain in his right thigh. The Brazilian Football Confederation (CBF) announced further tests to assess the injury.
Brazil secured a 3-0 victory, but their progress to the knockout stages depends on the upcoming match against Scotland. Losing a key attacker like Raphinha could impact the team’s offensive strength significantly.
Real Madrid forward Vinicius Junior, a teammate of Raphinha in the national team despite their club rivalry, expressed his concern: "Suffering an injury is always very difficult, especially for Raphinha, who is a very important player for us and who has already suffered a lot from injuries this season… We hope it’s nothing serious and that he can stay with us until the end of the World Cup."
Both players are setting aside club differences in service of Brazil’s ambitions, with Raphinha being a vital part of their attack to advance far in the tournament.
