Raphinha Injury Update: Brazil Coach Carlo Ancelotti Confirms Muscle Issue in France Friendly

Brazil winger Raphinha did not return for the second half of his national team’s friendly against France after experiencing muscle discomfort in the first half, head coach Carlo Ancelotti confirmed following the match.

The Barcelona forward started the game in Boston but was replaced by Luiz Henrique at halftime as Brazil fell to a 2-1 defeat. Ancelotti addressed the situation in his post-match remarks, emphasizing that the substitution was precautionary.

“I feel Raphinha played very well,” Ancelotti said. “He had some muscle discomfort at the end of the first half and we had to substitute him, but he had many opportunities and very fine movement off the ball.”

The coach praised Raphinha’s contributions despite the early exit, noting the winger’s activity in the opening period. “Despite the result, Ancelotti was quick to defend the performance of his starting attackers while clarifying the medical necessity behind the half-time change. The Italian tactician prioritised the welfare of his players over chasing a result in a warm-up fixture.”

Ancelotti too highlighted the efforts of Raphinha’s attacking partner Vinicius Junior. “Vini always tries,” Ancelotti said. “He always makes the difference. A striker cannot always score, but the work done by both of them was good.”

The injury concern is particularly significant given Raphinha’s importance to both Barcelona and Brazil as the 2026 World Cup approaches. The winger had already missed time earlier in the season due to a hamstring issue before suffering another setback in February.

Barcelona’s medical staff has been in contact with Raphinha following the match, with reports indicating serious concern about the potential severity of the injury. His availability for Brazil’s next friendly against Croatia remains uncertain.

The incident occurred during Brazil’s first high-profile friendly before the 2026 World Cup, providing Ancelotti an opportunity to assess his squad ahead of final roster selections. The tight one-goal defeat to France in the United States has raised questions about the availability of key players less than three months from the tournament’s start.

As of the coach’s comments, no specific details about the nature or extent of Raphinha’s muscle issue have been provided. The focus remains on the player’s recovery and assessment by both national team and club medical staff.

The situation will continue to be monitored as Brazil prepares for its upcoming fixtures and Barcelona evaluates the impact on their season campaign.

For continued updates on Raphinha’s recovery and Brazil’s preparations for the 2026 World Cup, follow official team announcements and trusted sports news sources.