Raphinha's Recovery Sparks Hope as Brazil Weighs World Cup Risks
Brazil’s round-of-16 build-up gained a welcome jolt of optimism in New Jersey, where Raphinha finally reappeared on the grass. No teammates, no ball-rondo banter, no full-contact drills – just the Barcelona winger, a ball, and an individual session that felt far bigger than it looked.
For the first time since a right thigh injury forced him out of the group stage, the 29-year-old worked on the pitch on Tuesday, ticking off a key milestone in a race against the clock that has defined his World Cup so far.
While the rest of the squad enjoyed a scheduled break until Wednesday afternoon, Raphinha stayed behind at the training base, grinding through an intensive rehabilitation program with the Selecao medical staff. The message from him is obvious: he wants to be there when the tournament truly sharpens.
Inside the camp, though, the mood is more measured. Brazil’s coaches have the scars of his recent fitness history in mind and are determined not to let emotion overrule logic. Lucas Paqueta’s own thigh problem, picked up against Japan, has only underlined the need for caution. One winger already in the treatment room is a concern; losing another by rushing him back would be reckless.
ESPN reports that, despite the encouraging pictures of Raphinha back on the ball, he remains a serious doubt for the round-of-16 clash with Norway.
The medical team are poring over his data every day, testing how that right thigh responds to each increase in workload. Carlo Ancelotti is expected to leave his decision late: include the former Leeds United man on the bench as a wildcard option, or hold him back and aim for a fully fit version in a potential quarter-final, if Brazil get there.
The dilemma is sharpened by context. This is not an isolated knock. This latest thigh issue is the fifth problem in the same area for Raphinha in the 2025-26 season alone, a run of muscular strains and setbacks that has disrupted his rhythm for both Barcelona and Brazil. Every sprint, every shot in training, carries a hint of jeopardy.
The moment of damage came in Philadelphia, during Brazil’s 3-0 win over Haiti. Raphinha lasted only the first half, leaving the pitch visibly distraught, haunted by the thought that his World Cup might have ended before it had truly begun. The initial fear was severe, but scans brought a sliver of relief: a muscle strain, not a complete tear. The door to a comeback stayed open – just – as long as his body tolerates the load being added this week.
Inside the Brazil camp, there is no sense of panic. Quite the opposite. According to ESPN, the staff believe the squad has enough depth to handle Norway without gambling on their first-choice right winger. In his place, young Rayan has stepped into the starting XI and given Ancelotti a different look on the flank – more raw, more unpredictable, but effective within the coach’s structure.
So the calculation is clear. Brazil can push Raphinha now and hope he survives, or protect him and trust the squad to carry them one more round. The priority, as it stands, is to have the Barcelona forward as close to 100 per cent as possible for the decisive stages.
In a World Cup where one mistimed sprint can end a campaign, Brazil must decide: is the knockout against Norway the moment to roll the dice, or the moment to prove that their strength really does run deeper than one star winger’s fragile thigh?
