Barcelona have been plunged into fresh concern after star forward Raphinha sustained an injury whilst on international duty with Brazil. The winger was forced off during an international friendly against Australia, having earlier converted a first-half penalty to draw Brazil level at 2-2. However, he failed to emerge for the second half, with young prodigy Endrick taking his place immediately after the interval.
The Catalan club had harboured reservations about the Brazilian’s physical workload well before the international break commenced. Enjoying an exceptional campaign, Raphinha has faced a punishing schedule combining high-intensity club fixtures, heavy match pressure, and arduous long-distance travel, raising fears over physical exhaustion and muscle fatigue.
Concerns regarding the player’s grueling itinerary had previously been highlighted by Spanish sports daily Marca. Reports pointed out that representing Brazil in fixtures against Australia and India involved extensive global travel, placing immense strain on the forward’s physical conditioning. Similar international breaks in the past have frequently seen the Brazilian return to the Camp Nou carrying physical ailments or recurring muscular setbacks.
Media outlets in Brazil emphasised that this latest fitness scare fits a troubling pattern. During an international fixture against France last March, Raphinha suffered a muscle injury that forced him to withdraw from the national squad. Upon his return to Barcelona, that particular issue sidelined him for nearly five weeks. Furthermore, during the last World Cup, he sustained a right hamstring injury against Haiti, which kept him out of Brazil’s subsequent two matches. Scans reported by Globo confirmed damage to his right thigh muscle—an exact spot where the player has suffered repeated medical complications.
The timing of this potential setback is particularly frustrating for Barcelona, given Raphinha’s blistering form this season. Prior to departing for international duty, the forward had racked up an extraordinary tally of 14 goals in his opening eight official appearances under manager Hansi Flick. Ahead of the break, Flick openly acknowledged his anxiety whenever key players depart for national service, though he expressed trust in the national team’s medical staff to manage workloads responsibly.
Barcelona’s medical team is now awaiting comprehensive scan results to assess the full extent of the damage. Should the assessments reveal no severe tear, the club hopes to have him available shortly after the international window concludes. Conversely, if tests confirm a recurrent muscle lesion, the forward faces another extended period on the treatment table.
