Raphinha's Return Date to Participate with Brazil in the World Cup

Barcelona and Brazilian national team winger Raphinha continues to work on recovering from a muscle injury in the back of his right thigh, with strong hopes of returning to participate in the 2026 World Cup, despite being confirmed absent from Brazil's next two matches.

Raphinha sustained the injury during Brazil's match against Haiti, which ended with Brazil winning 3-0 before he left the field in the 38th minute.

The French news agency quoted the player telling his teammates: 'I felt something strong and I was scared,' after being substituted during the match.

Medical examinations conducted in New Jersey, where the Brazilian national team camp is based, showed a tear in the back of the right thigh, the same area where the player has suffered repeated injuries throughout the season, the last of which was during the international break in March while participating with the Brazilian national team, leading to his absence for several weeks from Barcelona.

The same source added that the Brazilian Football Confederation confirmed that the player will undergo an intensive treatment protocol under the supervision of the national team's medical staff, without specifying the duration of his absence, focusing on accelerating the recovery process and returning him to the field as soon as possible.

In this context, Raphinha has started working separately from the group, continuing an intensive rehabilitation program with the Brazilian national team's medical staff, in an attempt to catch up with the advanced stages of the tournament.

According to the same source, the player has set a preliminary target to return on July 5, the date of the Round of 16 matches, if the recovery process proceeds without any setbacks.

Despite the injury, the player remains determined to seize the opportunity to return, aiming to benefit from the intensive treatment program to catch up with the knockout stage matches, should the Brazilian national team advance to the later stages.