The Brazilian Football Confederation (CBF) has released an official statement addressing the fitness of Raphinha following the injury he sustained during Brazil’s clash against Haiti at the 2026 FIFA World Cup.
The Barcelona star was forced off the pitch in the 40th minute, looking visibly distressed by an injury that sparked immediate concern—especially since he had been battling similar symptoms over the past week.
Since the opening match against Morocco last week, Raphinha has been plagued by muscular discomfort. As a precaution to manage his physical workload, Brazil’s medical staff had placed him under special supervision, requiring him to train separately from the main squad in recent days.
Raphinha had shown flashes of brilliance against Haiti, threatening the opposition goal several times and having a goal disallowed for offside, before sending shockwaves through the camp by going down injured. Consequently, manager Carlo Ancelotti had to substitute him, bringing on the young talent Rayan.
According to the CBF statement, Raphinha experienced sharp pain in his right hamstring. The medical staff deemed it necessary to withdraw him from the match as a precautionary measure. The Seleção went on to win the encounter comfortably with a 3-0 scoreline.
What’s Next? The 30-year-old winger is scheduled to undergo further medical examinations and scans later today to evaluate the exact extent of the hamstring injury and determine his expected recovery timeline.
There is widespread anxiety within the Brazilian camp that Raphinha’s World Cup journey could be over, particularly since he suffered intermittent muscle setbacks throughout the past club season, which significantly limited his playing time with Barcelona.
Despite the mounting fears, Raphinha appeared relatively optimistic when spotted by journalists while boarding the team bus after the game. Current indicators suggest he will almost certainly miss Brazil’s final group stage match against Scotland, with his fitness set to be re-evaluated ahead of the Round of 32.
