Raphinha has returned from each of his last three Brazil call-ups injured. That is the quiet pattern behind Barcelona’s unease this week, with the next list due later Thursday.
Carlo Ancelotti will name his squad on October 29 for friendlies against Japan on November 14 and Singapore on November 17. Both matches are at the National Stadium of Singapore, around 11,000 kilometres from Barcelona.
The club is not sitting on its hands. Spanish daily Sport reported earlier this month that Barcelona intend to contact Ancelotti and Brazil’s coaching staff to try to keep Raphinha out of this call-up on physical grounds. Whether that message lands before the squad is read out at CBF headquarters in Rio is a question of hours.
The September setback
Raphinha was substituted at half-time of Brazil’s 4-2 friendly win in Brisbane in September, scoring a penalty before coming off with discomfort in his right thigh. Tests found a minor muscle oedema at the back of the leg.
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He missed Barcelona’s 3-0 La Liga win over Getafe and their 4-1 Champions League victory against Galatasaray before returning for the Real Betis game. He has since scored in El Clásico, though Hansi Flick’s side still look short of their rhythm, having lost to Real Madrid and Paris Saint-Germain in quick succession.
March’s five-week shadow
Barcelona’s real fear is a repeat of March. Raphinha picked up a hamstring injury on Brazil duty against France and was ruled out for five weeks.
The absence covered both legs of Barcelona’s Champions League quarter-final against Atlético Madrid, and the problem was in the same hamstring area that had already cost him close to two months earlier in that season. Across the 2025-26 campaign he missed 25 matches for club and country with recurring right-leg issues.
The forward Barcelona cannot afford to lose
Flick has leaned on the 29-year-old all season. Raphinha opened the campaign with 14 goals in his first eight appearances before the Australia injury. He has drifted increasingly through the centre of the attack after Barcelona’s summer pursuit of Julián Álvarez broke down and the club chose not to buy a specialist striker.
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Barça Universal reports Raphinha is most likely to be called up despite not yet regaining his best form. Brazil’s squad is due to be read out at 3pm local time at CBF headquarters in Rio.
