Raphinha Injury Leaves Brazil Sweating Before Last 32
Brazil face a nervous wait as Raphinha’s hamstring tear threatens to rule him out until the Round of 16.
Hamstring Tear Puts Round of 32 Participation in Doubt
Brazil’s preparations for the knockout rounds have been shadowed by a worrying medical bulletin on Raphinha. The Barcelona forward, forced off during the Haiti group win, has been confirmed to have suffered a muscle tear in his right hamstring. With Brazil’s Round of 32 clash scheduled for June 29 in Houston, Carlo Ancelotti’s camp is in a race against the clock.
The Brazilian Football Confederation confirmed imaging scans revealed a tear in the posterior region of Raphinha’s right thigh — crucially a reinjury of the same hamstring problem he battled in March. Sports doctors warn the severity may exceed Brazil’s official public line. The June 29 Round of 32 clash looks too soon; the Round of 16 window around July 4 to 7 represents the most realistic return target for the 29-year-old.
Ancelotti Has Options But None Are Raphinha
Raphinha had been one of Brazil’s sharpest performers in the early group games before the injury struck. Replacement Rayan showed promise with his directness and pace against Haiti, and with Martinelli also in the squad, Ancelotti has options. But losing a player who delivered 28 club goals for Barcelona this season is a blow no team shrugs off — the worry for Brazil is that it comes at the worst possible moment.
Brazil remain tournament favourites despite the setback. Ancelotti has the squad depth to adapt, but all eyes will stay on Raphinha’s recovery — the moment he steps back into training, the entire camp will exhale.
