Raphinha substituted at half-time for Brazil with right thigh discomfort

Barcelona are holding their breath. Raphinha had to come off at half-time during Brazil's second friendly of the international break against Australia, which ended in a 2-4 win for the Seleção. The forward, who had converted a penalty in the last minute of the first half, felt discomfort in his right thigh that led Carlo Ancelotti to keep him in the dressing room and bring on Endrick.

• Raphinha was replaced at the break in Brazil vs Australia due to muscle discomfort.
• The forward scored from the spot in the final minute of the first half and wore the captain's armband.
• The Brazilian Football Confederation confirmed the issue without specifying its severity.
• This is his third physical setback with Brazil in just over a year.
• Barcelona await medical tests after the Brazilian's outstanding start to the season.

Raphinha goes off injured right after scoring from the spot

The Brazilian winger started in the second test of the Australian tour, keeping his place after completing the first match, which ended in a 1-1 draw. This time he wore the captain's armband and played as the most advanced player, the same role he has been performing at Barcelona. His attacking presence paid off just before the break, when he scored from the penalty spot and ended a year-and-a-half wait for a goal with Brazil.

The joy was short-lived, however. Just before half-time he felt a problem in the back of his right thigh and did not return for the second period. The Brazilian coach turned to his bench, with Endrick taking his place, in a moment that left the Catalan club's medical staff deeply concerned.

What Barcelona stand to lose if Raphinha is injured

The setback comes at a golden moment for the player, who is enjoying a spectacular start to the season with 14 goals in just 8 official matches. A significant muscle injury would be a serious blow for Hansi Flick, who has turned the Brazilian into a key attacking piece thanks to his goalscoring output and his ability to pin defenders and create space.

After travelling almost 40,000 kilometres on this tour, any physical issue takes on extra significance because of the accumulated fatigue and the demanding schedule ahead. Barcelona face a congested run of LaLiga and European fixtures, and losing their top scorer for several weeks would disrupt the rotation plans and reduce the team's attacking threat.

Raphinha's recent injury record with Brazil

This is not the first time the forward has returned from international duty with physical problems. In March 2026, during a friendly against France, he had to leave the pitch because of discomfort in the back of his right thigh. Tests confirmed a muscle injury and the player was immediately released from the squad.

Months later, at the World Cup, the same story repeated itself. In the match against Haiti he suffered a problem in the same area, the posterior region of his right thigh. Brazil confirmed the diagnosis and chose to keep him in the camp under intensive treatment, although he missed the following matches of the tournament.

Next steps and Brazil's upcoming match against India

Brazil's schedule includes another friendly on Saturday, October 3, against India in Kolkata. Raphinha's availability for that match is clearly in doubt pending medical assessment. Ancelotti did not address the player's condition in his post-match press conference, so the uncertainty remains.

The CBF confirmed the substitution as a precautionary measure but offered no further details on the diagnosis. The player is expected to undergo tests in the coming hours to determine whether it is a simple overload or a muscle strain. In the meantime, Barcelona are keeping their fingers crossed over a player who currently carries so much of the team's goalscoring weight.