Raphinha was the first Barcelona player to feature at the 2026 World Cup, starting for Brazil in their opening match against Morocco at the MetLife Stadium in New Jersey. The game ended in a draw and the Brazilian side, coached by Carlo Ancelotti, showed a rather subdued overall performance.
During the match, Raphinha created a clear chance in the second half, but his shot was saved by Morocco’s goalkeeper Bono. Brazilian media generally described his display as discreet, highlighting his limited offensive influence and difficulties connecting with the team’s play. Nonetheless, most analyses point out that the 1-1 result was more due to structural problems in the team rather than solely his individual performance.
Brazil avoided defeat thanks to a goal by Vinicius Júnior. Analysts at UOL commented on Brazil’s disconnected and outplayed first half, criticizing some tactical choices by Carlo Ancelotti, especially deploying Raphinha in a more central attacking role. Despite this, collective errors such as midfield being overrun and defensive lapses attracted more criticism than individual shortcomings.
For Barcelona, Raphinha’s presence in the national team brings both added workload and valuable experience at the highest international stage. The Brazil squad and coaching staff will look to adjust tactics to better utilize Raphinha’s abilities in upcoming matches.
