Dbarta24 Sports Desk- Brazil international Raphinha has been withdrawn from the national team squad ahead of their upcoming friendly against India after sustaining a right thigh injury during Brazil’s 4-2 victory over Australia in Brisbane.
The winger will return directly to Barcelona to undergo treatment, sparking significant concern for the Catalan club given his extensive history with recurring muscle injuries.
Injury Breakdown and National Team Exit
Raphinha experienced discomfort in his right thigh during the match against Australia, prompting head coach Carlo Ancelotti to sub him off at halftime as a precaution. Despite playing out of position as a center-forward, the winger had already contributed significantly by assisting Ryan’s goal before his early exit.
Following medical evaluations, the Brazilian Football Confederation (CBF) confirmed that imaging tests revealed minor muscle inflammation (edema).
CBF stated that releasing Raphinha from the squad was a precautionary measure to ensure his speedy recovery. Brazil has decided not to call up a replacement for the upcoming Kolkata fixture on October 3.
“The decision to release Raphinha was made out of caution and to ensure a swift recovery,” the CBF noted in an official statement.Recurring Nightmare for Barcelona
The injury comes as a heavy blow to Barcelona, where Raphinha has been in exceptional form this season, delivering 14 goals and 3 assists across 8 appearances.
However, the location of the injury is a major worry for the club’s medical staff; Raphinha has now injured the same spot on his thigh five times, accumulating over 150 days on the sidelines across his tenure with Brazil and Barcelona.
His injury timeline highlights a frustrating pattern:
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2025–26 Pre-Season: Missed nearly two months due to a initial hamstring strain.
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2025–26 Late Season: Sidelined for a month with a recurring thigh issue.
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July World Cup: Missed approximately two weeks with a minor hamstring strain.
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Current Status: Undergoing rehabilitation with an uncertain timeline.
What Lies Ahead
The exact duration of Raphinha’s absence remains unconfirmed pending further evaluations in Spain. Barcelona fans and management are hopeful he can complete his rehabilitation in time for their clash against Getafe on October 10.
A prolonged layoff would severely disrupt Barcelona’s upcoming campaign, as the Catalan giants face a grueling fixture list featuring crucial matches against Galatasaray, Real Betis, Paris Saint-Germain, and Real Madrid later this month.