The latest injury update on Raphinha revealed a muscle injury in his right thigh. As a result, Carlo Ancelotti was forced to test different options after Raphinha was substituted during Brazil’s group-stage match against Haiti.

Vinicius Jr. took charge of Verdeamarelha’s attack, producing performances that earned him three Player of the Match awards—a feat previously achieved only by Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo. If this team advances to the next round, it remains to be seen whether Raphinha will be available, as the winger has chosen to stay with the squad despite his injury.

All or nothing for Brazil

There is no longer any margin for error at the 2026 World Cup, and every team knows it. Brazil and Japan will face off at Houston Stadium in a Round of 32 clash that is expected to be played in front of a packed crowd. What happens today will determine the future of Brazil and Japan at the World Cup.

Kickoff is scheduled for 1 p.m. ET, with the winner advancing to the Round of 16 to face the victor of the Norway vs. Ivory Coast matchup. the Selecao topped their group and will now look to carry that momentum into the knockout stage. Can Brazil get the job done?

Is the Golden Goal still in effect?

The golden goal rule was abolished in 2004 and is no longer used in tournaments like the World Cup. As a result, any extra time will be played in full. If the score remains level after the 30 minutes of extra time, the match will be decided by a penalty shootout.

“I love my country, I love playing for the Seleção. I will do my best to recover as soon as possible,” the winger said, according to Fabrizio Romano on X. “I will stay with the team for sure to support and contribute.”

After being substituted during the second match by Carlo Ancelotti, the Italian manager decided to send young talent Rayan onto the pitch. Which alternative will he try for the final group stage match?

What injury did Raphinha suffer?

During Brazil’s 3-0 victory over Haiti, Raphinha was forced off the pitch in the 38th minute after suffering a muscle injury to his right thigh. Medical scans confirmed a tear in his right hamstring, a recurring issue that has plagued the Barcelona winger throughout the season.

The Brazilian Football Confederation (CBF) decided not to cut him from the squad and has already begun an intensive treatment protocol with the medical staff, aiming for a potential return for the Round of 16 on July 5.

What’s next for Brazil?

For their final matchday in Group C of the 2026 FIFA World Cup, Brazil will square off against Scotland in a crucial encounter to decide the final group standings. This highly anticipated match is scheduled for Wednesday, June 24, 2026, with kickoff set for 6:00 PM ET.

The defining clash will take place at the Miami Stadium (Hard Rock Stadium) in Miami Gardens, Florida, as the Seleção look to lock down their spot in the Round of 16.

With an eye on the matches ahead and the possibility of Carlo Ancelotti’s side continuing its run in the tournament, the Barcelona winger will remain with the squad, undergoing intensive treatment.

Brazil’s recent 3-0 victory moved the Selecao to the top of the group, leaving their qualification for the Round of 16 entirely in their own hands. The remaining question is whether, if they advance, Raphinha will be available for the matches ahead.

Options to replace Raphinha

Following Raphinha’s injury during latest victory over Haiti, manager Carlo Ancelotti faces a tactical dilemma ahead of the final group stage match. While 19-year-old forward Rayan served as the immediate substitute in that fixture, Ancelotti has several elite alternatives at his disposal to reshape the Selecao‘s front line.

Gabriel Martinelli offers immense tactical flexibility, capable of exploiting the flanks with his explosive pace and relentless pressing, which could provide a seamless transition out wide. Alternatively, the Italian manager could opt for a central structural shift by introducing the young prodigy Endrick into the attack, a move that would allow dynamic players like Vinícius Júnior to rotate fluidly into open spaces as Brazil look to lock down the top spot in Group C.

What’s next for Brazil?

For the final matchday of Group C at the 2026 FIFA World Cup, Brazil will face Scotland on June 24, 2026. This decisive group-stage encounter will take place at the Miami Stadium (Hard Rock Stadium) in Miami Gardens, Florida

The Barcelona star winger was unable to finish the first half after suffering an apparent muscular injury. Crucially, the forward did not require a stretcher to leave the pitch, walking off under his own power to the sidelines—offering a subtle glimmer of hope for the Brazilian camp.

Teenage forward Rayan was called upon to replace Raphinha in the 39th minute, with manager Carlo Ancelotti wasting no time and taking absolutely no chances with his winger’s fitness. Brazil is expected to provide an official medical update following the conclusion of the match.

Raphinha was struggling before being subbed off

Before Raphinha’s injury forced him off, La Canarinha was already cruising with a 2-0 lead over Haiti, whose FIFA ranking was updated for the game against Brazil. However, the Barcelona winger was far from the catalyst behind that early advantage.

SofaScore handed Raphinha a modest 6.3 rating for his brief time on the pitch. His underlying stats highlighted a frustrating outing: he completed 10 passes (five of them backward), misplaced three, and failed to complete any of his three dribble attempts. He also struggled with his delivery, successfully connecting on just one of his five crosses.

Shortly after he left the pitch, Brazil extended their cushion to 3-0 thanks to a brilliant finish from Vinicius Jr. Raphinha is now expected to undergo further medical examinations to determine the exact severity of his muscular injury.

Fabrizio Romano, a renowned journalist who specializes in the soccer transfer market, reported on Friday that Barcelona made the first move toward acquiring Julian Alvarez from Atleti. The Colchoneros did not take this report well and answered with joking bids for three of the Blaugranas’ biggest stars.

“HERE WE GO! We have sent a fax to @FCBarcelona_es with our transfer offer: 4 tickets for tomorrow’s Bad Bunny concert, an annual subscription to ABC, and a bag of sunflower seeds. We eagerly await the response to prepare the ‘announce’,” Atleti published on their official Spanish X account alongside a picture of Lamine Yamal, who recently won his third LaLiga title, wearing their jersey.

Pedri and Raphinha also included in Atleti’s troll

In their second tweet on the topic, Atletico Madrid shared a joke offer for Pedri: “HERE WE GO! For this second offer we had a problem, we ran out of tickets for tomorrow’s concert, so we are improving the previous proposal with 6 for Sunday’s concert.”

For their third post of the day, Atletico Madrid targeted Barcelona winger Raphinha, all of them starting with Romano’s phrase when he announces a signing: “HERE WE GO! And to complete the 3-for-1 deal, we went all out and are throwing the house out the window: the player arrives on loan for one season and in exchange we loan Tom Ford and Smith with no option to buy. An irresistible offer.”

Atletico Madrid send a clear message to Barcelona about Julian Alvarez

Following these three posts, Atletico Madrid concluded the interaction with a direct message aimed at Barcelona regarding the reported bid for Julian Alvarez and the persistent rumors surrounding his potential exit from the club:

“No, Atletico Madrid would never do something like that. However, over the last few months, we have been suffering a campaign of constant harassment against one of our players. Self-serving leaks, ‘fake news’, a continuous lack of respect, the Cule version of the media machinery inventing stories, phone calls right before head-to-head matches… But of course, it would also never cross our minds to have the vice president of the referees on our payroll or to resort to political favors to register players. RESPECT and VALUES.”

“We’re together, Rapha… we are going to win this!” a tearful Neymar told Raphinha shortly after the roster dropped. The raw emotion has injected a massive wave of optimism across Brazil, especially since the veteran forward was widely considered a long shot to make the final cut for the upcoming tournament.

Neymar also implored fans to mark his words, expressing unwavering confidence that the Brazilian squad can hoist the trophy if they remain united. “We will give it all. We need to bring it back to Brazil,” Neymar remarked during the call.

As the Canarinha faithful celebrated the news, Ancelotti addressed the media to explain his decision to include Neymar in the final 26-man roster. Expectations are sky-high, as Brazil clearly did not hesitate to bring every ounce of elite, game-changing talent available to North America.

Neymar’s form forced Ancelotti’s hand

While Neymar’s inclusion in the final 26-man World Cup roster drew some debate regarding his current match fitness, his sheer talent remains undeniable. He has proven to be an absolute lifeline for Santos, carrying the club despite its highly turbulent domestic campaign so far.

While other notable stars like Joao Pedro were surprisingly snubbed from the final squad—leaving them with nothing but a consolation message from Ancelotti—Neymar spent the year proving he is built for the big stage. Here is a look at his production with Santos this season:

• Appearances: 15 (8 Brasileirão, 3 Copa Sudamericana, 2 Copa do Brasil, 2 Campeonato Paulista)
• Goals: 6
• Assists: 4
• Yellow Cards: 7
• Minutes Played: 1,265

Projected starting XI for Brazil at the World Cup

With Neymar pulling the strings in midfield, anticipation is building over what Brazil can accomplish in this North American-hosted tournament. The Verdeamarela are desperate to replicate their iconic 1994 run, the last time the World Cup was held in the United States, which culminated in a thrilling penalty-shootout victory over Italy.

Here is how Brazil are projected to line up:

Alisson Becker; Wesley Franca, Marquinhos, Gabriel Magalhaes, Alex Sandro; Bruno Guimaraes, Casemiro; Raphinha, Neymar, Vinicius Junior, Endrick.

Lamine Yamal will miss the game due to a left hamstring injury. Yamal is undergoing a conservative treatment to make his return for the 2026 FIFA World Cup plausible. Hence, Barcelona are being careful.

Yamal suffered this injury against Celta Vigo on April 22. While his World Cup appearance shouldn’t be in question, his appearance in what remains of LaLiga is in fact cloudy.

Raphinha is also in question

While Raphinha did make the trip with the team, he won’t be starting, as he is just recovering from a right hamstring injury. He suffered a setback earlier in his recovery, and just returned to training as of late April.

Raphinha suffered his injury while playing with Brazil. While he is on the squad, it’s likely that he won’t play at all, because his aim is to be back for El Clasico against Real Madrid next week.

What do Barcelona need to win LaLiga title?

Barcelona need just five more points from the remaining 15 on the line to secure the LaLiga title. They have an 11-point lead over Real Madrid. However, if they win vs. Osasuna, and Madrid fail to win against Espanyol, they could actually secure their title in El Clasico.

Yamal is sidelined with a significant hamstring injury that is expected to keep him out for the remainder of the season, while Raphinha continues to recover from a separate muscle issue and has yet to return to full team training.

Barcelona head coach Hansi Flick confirmed ahead of the game that neither player would be available, with both still progressing through recovery and not ready for competitive action.

How and when did Lamine Yamal get injured?

Lamine Yamal suffered a left hamstring injury during Barcelona’s LaLiga match against Celta Vigo in April 2026, forcing him off immediately after scoring a penalty. The forward grabbed the back of his leg right after converting from the spot and was substituted moments later.

Medical tests confirmed the injury as a hamstring issue in his left leg, with the club opting for a conservative recovery plan. Further reports revealed it as a significant muscle injury (biceps femoris), explaining why Barcelona ruled him out for the remainder of the domestic season.

How and when did Raphinha get injured?

Raphinha suffered a hamstring injury during the March international break in a match involving Brazil, which has sidelined him for several weeks. The issue was confirmed shortly after the game and initially projected to keep him out for around five weeks.

Since then, the Brazilian winger has been working through rehabilitation, missing key matches for Barcelona during a crucial stretch of the season. Although his recovery has progressed, he has not yet been fully reintegrated into matchday action, which explains his absence for this fixture.

When will Lamine Yamal return to play?

Lamine Yamal is expected to miss the remainder of the 2025–26 LaLiga season, with a potential return targeted for the upcoming international competitions, including the World Cup.

The club has confirmed that he will follow a conservative treatment plan, prioritizing long-term fitness over a rushed comeback. Recovery timelines suggest an absence of approximately five to six weeks, effectively ruling him out of Barcelona’s remaining league fixtures.

When will Raphinha return to play?

Raphinha could return in early May 2026, with projections pointing to a comeback around Barcelona’s match against Osasuna. Reports indicate that his recovery timeline from the hamstring injury was set at around five weeks, and he has been targeting key late-season fixtures for his return.

How have they performed this season?

Lamine Yamal

Lamine Yamal has been Barcelona’s most productive and influential attacker during the 2025–26 season, leading the team in both goals and assists in LaLiga. The young winger has recorded around 15 league goals and 9+ assists.

He has also delivered in Europe, contributing 6 goals and 4 assists in the UEFA Champions League. His overall influence goes far beyond numbers, as he leads the club in expected assists and chance creation.

His importance is further reflected in his presence: he has featured in the vast majority of league matches this season, and despite Barcelona managing results without him, his absence due to injury represents a major tactical loss in the title race.

Raphinha

Raphinha has delivered a strong but more complementary season, contributing consistent scoring and experience despite missing time through injury. He has registered 11 LaLiga goals and multiple assists in limited appearances, maintaining solid efficiency when available.

His role has been less about leading the attack and more about providing balance—offering width, pressing intensity and vertical runs that stretch defenses and open space for teammates like Yamal. Even with fewer minutes, he remains one of the team’s most reliable attacking options when fit.

His influence also extends beyond raw stats. In high-intensity matches, his pressing and work rate have been key to Barcelona’s system, often setting the tone for the team’s defensive and offensive transitions.

The injury stems from a muscle issue in his hamstring area, which has required a cautious rehabilitation plan to avoid aggravation or relapse, according to recent squad updates and medical reports around the Spanish club.

This is not a tactical decision, as he had been expected to play a key role in the final stretch of the season once fully fit, but injuries have limited his availability. Hansi Flick’s team is now forced to reshape its attacking system once again.

When did Raphinha get injured?

Raphinha got injured on March 26, during international duty with Brazil against France. Since then, the winger has been undergoing a structured rehabilitation program in Barcelona.

The setback occurred in a friendly match against France, where he was substituted after feeling discomfort in his hamstring. Medical tests later confirmed a muscle tear, with Barcelona officially classifying it as a significant hamstring injury requiring several weeks of recovery.

When will Raphinha be able to play again for Barcelona?

Raphinha is expected to return around early May 2026, with his recovery timeline set at approximately five weeks from the date of the injury. However, the club’s priority remains avoiding any relapse.

Current medical projections suggest a return date close to the final weeks of the 2025-26 LaLiga season, depending on how his rehabilitation progresses. Some reports indicate a possible comeback window around May 3 against Osasuna.

How has Raphinha performed for Barcelona this season?

Raphinha has been one of the most productive attackers in the 2025-26 season, combining goals, assists and decisive performances in both LaLiga and European competitions before his latest hamstring injury.

According to Transfermarkt data, he has been highly efficient in front of goal despite not playing every match. His output in La Liga alone—8 goals and 3 assists in 14 games—highlights his ability to consistently impact matches.

Earlier in the season, he scored a brace in a dominant league win over Valencia and later delivered another standout performance in the Supercopa de España final against Real Madrid, where he scored twice and was named Man of the Match.

He also produced a “perfect 10/10” performance in the Champions League round of 16, contributing two goals and two assists in a 7–2 win over Newcastle United. His overall season has still been defined by elite attacking contribution.

“It was a robbery; the officiating was very poor. The decisions they made were unbelievable. Atletico committed I don’t know how many fouls and didn’t receive a single yellow card,” Raphinha told reporters after the match. “What I really want to understand is the referees’ standards toward Barcelona. I really want to understand this fear among referees of Barcelona reaching the win”.

Barcelona suffered a red card in both legs of the tie. The first was Pau Cubarsi at the Spotify Camp Nou while the match was still scoreless. The second came at the Riyadh Air Metropolitano, where Eric Garcia received a straight red with the score at 2-1 in Barcelona’s favor, making a comeback nearly impossible with only 10 men.

Raphinha vs Atletico supporters

Raphinha was one of the biggest absences for Hansi Flick’s side, as he continues to recover from an injury sustained while playing for Brazil during the March international break. However, the Brazilian traveled with the squad to Madrid and had a heated exchange with some Atletico Madrid supporters.

After the match ended, the Brazilian was on the pitch with his teammates and took the opportunity to send a message to the opposing fans. Through gestures, Raphinha signaled that Atletico Madrid would be eliminated in the next round, whether they face Arsenal or Sporting Lisbon.

Barcelona had filed a complaint with UEFA regarding the refereeing

Raphinha isn’t the only one within the club pointing to controversial officiating. In fact, Barcelona filed an official complaint to UEFA following the first-leg defeat, stating “that the refereeing did not adhere to the current law, directly influencing how the game progressed and the result“.

The club’s frustration centered on a specific play where goalkeeper Juan Musso took a goal kick with his feet to Marc Pubill, who then stopped the ball with his hand to restart the play himself.

Barcelona maintain that Pubill’s handling of the ball should have resulted in a penalty for the home side and a second yellow card for the defender. Despite the formal protest, UEFA’s Control, Ethics, and Disciplinary Committee declared the complaint inadmissible.

His absence is not a tactical decision but a physical setback, after the Brazilian picked up a right hamstring injury while playing for Brazil, an issue that has kept him out during a crucial stretch of the campaign.

Like it happened in the first leg against Atletico Madrid, Barcelona must adapt in attack. With a two-goal deficit to overturn and no margin for error, the absence of a player like him adds another layer of difficulty to an already tense European night. Besides, Robert Lewandowski and Marcus Rashford aren’t starting against Atletico today.

How long is Raphinha’s recovery time?

Raphinha’s recovery time is approximately five weeks after suffering a right hamstring injury. The injury occurred during an international friendly between Brazil and France, where the winger was forced off at halftime due to discomfort.

His recovery period means he is expected to miss a significant stretch of crucial fixtures, including both legs of the Champions League quarterfinal against Atletico Madrid and several LaLiga matches.

There is cautious optimism inside the club that he could return in May, potentially in time for a key domestic clash against Real Madrid. However, hamstring injuries are notoriously delicate, so the medical staff will avoid rushing him back.

How has Raphinha been performing this season?

Raphinha has been one of Barcelona’s most productive players this season, emerging as a key attacking leader with goals, assists and standout performances in big games. His absence might be a relief for Diego Simeone, since Jan Oblak isn’t starting against Barcelona today.

Before his injury, he had already recorded 19 goals in all competitions, making him one of the team’s top scorers in the 2025–26 campaign. His output places him among the most decisive attacking players in the squad under Hansi Flick.

He delivered a hat-trick against Sevilla in LaLiga and followed it up with a dominant Champions League display against Newcastle, where he scored two goals and added two assists, earning a perfect rating and Man of the Match honors.

He has also stepped up in major competitions. He was instrumental in Barcelona’s Spanish Super Cup triumph, finishing as the tournament’s top scorer and delivering decisive performances, including goals against Real Madrid in the final.