Brazil is showing strong support for forward Raphinha despite his recent hamstring injury during their 3-0 victory against Haiti. The match on June 20 was a success for the Selecao, but Raphinha had to leave the field before halftime due to a thigh issue. Nevertheless, the team is hopeful he can stay with them and recover in time to play later in the World Cup.
On Saturday, the Brazilian Football Confederation (CBF) confirmed that Raphinha has a muscle injury but didn’t specify how long he will be out. They stated, “On Saturday, Raphinha underwent an imaging exam that confirmed a muscle injury in the back of his right thigh.” The medical team will oversee an intensive treatment plan to help him get back on the field quickly.
This is the fourth hamstring injury Raphinha has faced in the past year. He missed 23 matches for Barcelona last season and was sidelined for more than a month due to a similar injury during a friendly game against France in March.
His teammates are standing by him, hoping for a quick recovery. Paqueta expressed their concern, saying, “He’s a little downcast; we hope it’s nothing too serious. He’s a very important player, and we rely on him a lot.”
In Raphinha’s absence against Haiti, Brazil brought on Rayan in the second half. His injury comes after Neymar has already missed the first two matches of the tournament due to his own injury struggles.
Looking ahead, Brazil is set to conclude their Group C campaign against Scotland in Miami on Wednesday. Currently, they lead the standings with four points, just ahead of Morocco on goal difference, while Scotland sits in third with three points. Haiti has already been eliminated after two losses.
Stay tuned for more updates on the FIFA World Cup as the tournament unfolds.
