Raphinha Sidelined with Thigh Injury After Brazil’s Win Over Haiti

Brazil’s run in the tournament just hit a rough patch. The Brazilian Football Confederation (CBF) confirmed Saturday afternoon that Raphinha has a muscle injury in the back of his right thigh. The Barcelona winger went down in the first half against Haiti, and now the national team’s medical staff is scrambling to get him back.

The injury happened during the 3-0 win, with Raphinha forced off in the 40th minute. Rayan came on to replace him. The CBF didn’t give a timeline for his return, saying only that he’ll undergo intensive treatment with the team’s doctors. They want him back on the field as soon as possible, but that’s about as specific as it gets right now.

Raphinha underwent imaging that confirmed the damage. The statement said he’ll stick with Brazil’s medical team for rehab, rather than heading back to his club. That could mean the injury isn’t minor, or it could just mean they want him around for morale and monitoring. Hard to say without more details.

This is a concern for Brazil, obviously. Raphinha’s been one of their more dangerous attackers in recent games, creating chances and stretching defenses. Losing him for any stretch — especially if the team advances deep — would force head coach Dorival Júnior to tweak his approach. Rayan played fine in relief, but he’s not the same kind of threat.

What Happens Next

Brazil hasn’t said whether Raphinha will miss the next match or the rest of the tournament. That kind of vagueness usually means the team is waiting to see how the first few days of treatment go. Muscle injuries are tricky. They can heal in a week or linger for a month depending on the grade.

For now, Raphinha is staying with the squad. That’s worth watching. If the injury were season-ending, he’d probably be on a plane back to Barcelona already. So there’s some hope he’s back before the knockout rounds.

The CBF’s full statement was short and direct. It confirmed the injury, noted the intensive treatment plan, and said nothing else. No promises. No timeline. Just a player trying to heal and a team waiting to see what happens.