World Cup: Brazil keep faith in Raphinha despite latest injury setback

Brazil want to keep faith with striker Raphinha despite the Barcelona man suffering a hamstring injury in the Selecao’s 3-0 win over Haiti. The victory on Friday 20 June was worth it Raphinha limped off before half-time with another thigh problem. However, Brazil remains optimistic that he will remain in the squad and recover in time to play later in the World Cup.

The Brazilian Football Confederation (CBF) announced on Saturday that the winger had suffered a muscle injury, but did not specify how long he was expected to be sidelined.

“On Saturday, Raphinha underwent an imaging examination which confirmed a muscle injury in the back of his right thigh,” CBF said in a statement.

“The player will follow an intensive treatment protocol, monitored by the medical staff of the Brazilian national team, in order to facilitate his recovery and return to action as soon as possible.”

The latest setback marks Raphinh’s fourth hamstring injury in the past 12 months. The Barcelona winger also missed 23 games for his club last season, while a hamstring problem during Brazil’s friendly against France in March kept him out for more than a month.

Brazil’s players showed their unity towards Raphinh by rallying around him and hoping he will make a comeback later in the tournament.

“He’s a bit down; we hope it’s nothing too serious, that it’s the least worst-case scenario, because he’s a very important player and we rely on him a lot,” Paqueta told reporters.

Brazil used Rayan to replace Raphinha during the second half against Haiti. The setback for Raphinha comes amid Neymar’s injuries, which have seen the Brazilian superstar miss the first two games of the competition.

Brazil will conclude their campaign in Group C against Scotland on Wednesday in Miami. The five-time champions sit at the top of the table with four pointsthus edging Morocco on goal difference, while Scotland are third with three points and Haiti are already out after back-to-back defeats.

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Published on:

Jun 21, 2026 07:12 IST