At a glance
- FC Barcelona star Raphinha had to leave Brazil’s 3-2 friendly loss to France at half time.
- The winger complained of discomfort in his right leg.
- Catalan sources say that the feelings transmitted to Barca aren’t good, and that Raphinha could be out for several weeks with a hamstring knock.
FC Barcelona is worried about Raphinha’s right leg discomfort according to RAC1, with the “sensations” sent from the Brazil camp not good ahead of tests set to be carried out on the winger.
Real Madrid rival Vinicius Jr. was given Neymar’s usual shirt number for a Foxborough held friendly against France on Thursday evening. Yet it was Raphinha that started in a number 10 role for the five-time World Cup winners.
At half time, though, with the French leading 1-0 thanks to a cool Kylian Mbappe finish, Raphinha had to leave the first XI and the eventual 3-2 defeat.
Mundo Deportivo reported that he felt muscle pain, and other outlets such as RAC1 have now confirmed this.
It is feared that a hamstring knock could keep Raphinha out of the Barça line up for a number of weeks, and the Culer world now awaits said tests being run on the 29-year-old by Brazil national team doctors.
Injured FC Barcelona star Raphinha could miss key games
If it is a hamstring knock, Raphinha might miss key games such as April 4’s La Liga showdown with Atletico Madrid at the Metropolitano, plus a derby meeting with Joan Garcia’s former employers Espanyol at the Spotify Camp Nou a week later.
Wedged between those fixtures, however, are Champions League quarterfinal clashes with Atleti. The first leg will be played in Catalonia on April 8th, while the return in the Spanish capital is scheduled for April 14th.
On Friday, over 5,000 Barça members will find out if they have been allocated tickets for that latter match with around 2,300 available for the away end.
They’re just as nervous to hear news about Raphinha, though, which should come some time in the European afternoon given the time difference with the east coast of the United States where the Brazil camp is currently set up.
Raphinha isn’t having much luck this season
If a hamstring injury is confirmed, it will be the third in his right leg that Raphinha has suffered this season. Earlier in the campaign, that type of niggle kept him out for 71 days and a total of 17 matches.
One of those was the 4-0 loss at the Metropolitano to Atleti in the Copa del Rey semifinal first leg where Pedri was also absent, which doesn’t bode well when preparing to hear the worst regarding Raphinha’s medical exam results.
Though with their return return Barça were able to win the second leg 3-0 at home, those goals weren’t enough for a remontada.
Hansi Flick’s men consequentially gave up the chance to defend their crown won at the expense of Real Madrid in 2025, but there’s still a chance to repeat a treble which could feature continental silverware.
Over at AS, FC Barcelona correspondent Javi Miguel reports that Raphinha has suffered the same knock that kept him out for over two months, though it is important to learn whether it is a hamstring tear or just muscle strain before rushing to conclusions.
What is even sadder for Raphinha from a personal perspective is that – through a hat trick against Sevilla and a European brace at Newcastle’s expense recently – he was just beginning to recapture the kind of form that made him a Ballon d’Or contender in Flick’s maiden term.
On Twitter, Culers are already blasting the real necessity of March international friendlies at the height of the season, which only provoke the chance of catching the dreaded ‘FIFA virus’.
