Barcelona’s early-season scorer Raphinha has given the club a fresh injury concern after leaving Brazil’s second friendly against Australia at half-time with discomfort in his right thigh.
The forward had opened the scoring from the penalty spot shortly before the interval, ending an 18-month wait for a Brazil goal, but did not return after the break. Endrick took his place as Carlo Ancelotti altered the side for the second half.
Brazil’s football confederation has confirmed the problem, although the severity of the complaint and any expected absence have not yet been announced.
A long trip and a key Barcelona role
Raphinha had started both matches against Australia during an international trip estimated at 40,000 kilometres. He played the entire first friendly, a 1-1 draw, then retained his place for the return meeting, wearing the captain’s armband and operating centrally as Brazil’s most advanced attacker.
That position has also become familiar at Barcelona, where he has made an exceptional start to the campaign with 14 goals in eight appearances. Any confirmed muscular issue would be a significant concern in Catalonia as the club wait for the outcome of further assessment.
Brazil are due to face India in Kolkata on Saturday, 3 October, and Raphinha’s involvement in that fixture is now uncertain.
Recent Brazil setbacks
The right thigh has caused Raphinha difficulties on more than one recent international window. In March 2026, he was forced off in a friendly against France after feeling pain in the back of the thigh. Tests subsequently identified a muscle injury and he was released from the squad.
He suffered another problem in the same area during Brazil’s World Cup match against Haiti in June. Brazil kept him with the group for intensive treatment on that occasion, but he missed the team’s following games.
Barcelona will now await clarity on whether the latest substitution was precautionary or the beginning of another enforced lay-off for a player who has carried their attacking output through the opening weeks of the season.
