Brazil's Raphinha out of Scotland group clash as muscle injury threatens his World Cup campaign

Injury during Haiti match

On Friday June 19, at Philadelphia's Lincoln Financial Field, Brazil captain Raphinha pulled up with a right hamstring issue in the 39th minute of the World Cup group C match against Haiti. He called for medical assistance and was replaced by Bournemouth's Rayan. Brazil went on to win 3-0, but the sight of their attacking leader leaving the pitch dominated the evening. Raphinha had been managed carefully during the week with separate training after the opening draw with Morocco.

Raphinha will be evaluated tomorrow, we don't have much idea yet what happened with the hamstring.

Medical confirmation and treatment

Imaging on Saturday confirmed a muscle injury in the posterior right thigh. The Brazilian Football Confederation (CBF) issued a statement saying the player would follow an intensive treatment protocol supervised by the national team medical staff, aiming to return "as soon as possible". No recovery timeline was given, but he is already ruled out of the third group match against Scotland on Thursday.

The attacker Raphinha felt pain in the posterior right thigh muscle during the first half of the match against Haiti. The player has already started treatment and will be reassessed.

Impact on Brazil's campaign

Raphinha, 29, is the team captain and one of Carlo Ancelotti's key counter-attacking weapons alongside Vinícius Júnior. His absence for the Scotland match, which will decide first place in Group C, strips the attack of pace and leadership. He would also be a major doubt for the round of 16, though a deep run by Brazil could give him a chance to reappear later in the tournament.

Suffering an injury is always very complicated, especially for Raphinha, who is a very important player for us and has already suffered a lot this season with injuries. Let's hope it's nothing and he can stay with us until the end of the World Cup.

Recurring hamstring trouble

This is the fifth muscle issue in Raphinha's right leg this season. He missed six games with Barcelona in the spring, including the Champions League quarter-final against Atlético Madrid, after a femoral biceps tear picked up in a friendly with Brazil. The pattern of right hamstring breakdowns is now a worry for both club and country.