Raphinha Named Brazil Captain for Friendly Against Japan

Raphinha has been named captain of the Brazilian national team for their upcoming friendly against Japan this Saturday in Singapore, a move that highlights his rising status within the Seleção under manager Carlo Ancelotti, Mundo Deportivo reported.

The Barcelona forward takes the armband in the absence of Marquinhos, who has served as Brazil’s captain since 2021 but is currently sidelined with an injury sustained during a match against Barcelona.

While the coaching staff considered rotating the leadership among established figures like Bruno Guimarães, Vinícius Júnior, and Gabriel Magalhães, they ultimately chose to maintain the 27-year-old forward as the primary leader on the pitch, according to Mundo Deportivo. Under an internal order, the Arsenal midfielder is designated to wear the armband when Raphinha is not on the field.

This assignment marks Raphinha’s second time captaining the national side, having previously worn the armband during a match against Australia in the previous international break. The decision to entrust him with the role is tied to both his leadership experience at Barcelona and his recent conduct within the national team setup.

Barcelona Seeks to Manage Raphinha's Travel and Minutes

Raphinha has traveled approximately 22,000 kilometers to join the Brazilian squad, a journey that has raised concerns within the Barcelona offices, Madrid-Barcelona reported. The club has reportedly contacted the Brazilian Football Confederation (CBF) to ensure a “responsible use” of his minutes to avoid a third injury during international duty.

The Barcelona staff is concerned because recent defeats to PSG and Real Madrid exposed vulnerabilities in the squad, making any further injury to Raphinha—who is not currently at his physical peak—highly detrimental to Hansi Flick’s team.

Addressing these concerns, Rodrigo Caetano, the coordinator of the Brazilian national teams, said that the coaching staff is closely monitoring player fatigue. “We have reports from the clubs and have covered the entire training period. Our interpretation is that both Ancelotti and the entire coaching staff are already tracking the minutes, wear, and fatigue of all players,” Caetano told MARCA.

Raphinha Undergoes Ear Cyst Surgery to Ensure Recovery

Beyond standard fatigue, Raphinha’s availability has been complicated by a recent medical procedure. MARCA reported that the forward underwent surgery on October 26 to remove a cyst on his ear, an issue stemming from a head injury sustained earlier in the month.

Rather than waiting for the international break, the player opted to undergo the procedure immediately, allowing him to return to action for Barcelona shortly thereafter while wearing a protective bandage. Previously, in March, the forward suffered physical discomfort against France and missed the Champions League quarter-final against Atlético de Madrid due to a muscle injury.

Despite his current form—having recorded 19 goals and three assists in 14 official matches—the decision to include him in the squad for the matches against Japan and Singapore has drawn sharp criticism from some segments of the Spanish media.

While Barcelona successfully pressured the Spanish federation to exempt Lamine Yamal from upcoming UEFA Nations League matches, the effectiveness of similar efforts to manage Raphinha's minutes in protecting him during these friendlies is uncertain.

Next Steps for the Brazilian Squad

Brazil is scheduled to face Japan this Saturday at 11:15 CET in Singapore, followed by a match against the local side on Tuesday. Following a difficult World Cup, Ancelotti has utilized these camps to test younger players, turning the squad into an experimental ground for those of Olympic and under-20 age, while also serving as a recovery space for players overlooked by their clubs.

It remains unclear how many minutes the captain will actually play, as the technical staff continues to evaluate the fitness of their key players throughout the training camp to determine their participation in both fixtures.

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