At a glance
- Raphinha had to be substituted at half time during a Foxborough-held friendly between Brazil and France.
- Tests will be carried out on Friday, to see if the winger is carrying an injury in his right thigh.
- Raphinha being sidelined would come at the worst possible time for Barça with key La Liga and Champions League matches on the horizon.
FC Barcelona and Culers have been swept into panic upon hearing the news that star player Raphinha could be injured.
With France leading 1-0 through a counter attacking strike from Real Madrid rival Kylian Mbappé, Raphinha left Brazil’s eventual 2-1 friendly loss in Foxborough at half time.
Mundo Deportivo explained that tests will be carried out on the 29-year-old on Friday, to see if he’s carrying a knock after complaining of pain in his right thigh.
Raphinha injured would come at the worst possible time for FC Barcelona
Though such a development wouldn’t be welcomed by Brazil manager Carlo Ancelotti either, confirmation of an injury to Raphinha is a potential nightmare for Barça and their head coach Hansi Flick.
The number 11 has only just returned to top form since his last knock, with a range of hamstring setbacks leading to him missing 17 matches for club and country in 2025/2026.
Raphinha scored a hat trick against Sevilla in a 5-2 win, and also found the back of the net in the 7-2 destruction of Newcastle United in the Champions League last 16 a few days later.
Brazil are set to play against Croatia next, but Barça have three meetings with Atletico Madrid to navigate in the league and UCL last eight, in addition to a derby date with Espanyol on April 11th wedged between those domestic and continental affairs.
Both the club and its fans await test results from Raphinha with bated breath. Once more, in the very first window of international matches to be played before the month’s end, a big Blaugrana name, and consequentially his team, could have possibly caught the dreaded ‘FIFA Virus’.
