Raphinha will return to Barcelona early after suffering a thigh injury during Brazil’s 4-2 friendly victory over Australia on Tuesday.
The Brazilian Football Confederation (CBF) confirmed that the Barcelona forward will miss Saturday’s meeting with India and has been released from the national team to continue his recovery in Europe.
The injury is not initially considered serious, but Barcelona are expected to take no chances with the in-form attacker given his history of hamstring problems.
“On Wednesday, Raphinha underwent tests that revealed a minor muscle edema in the back of his right thigh,” the CBF said.
“As a precaution, and to ensure a speedy recovery, the player will be released from the Brazilian national team, with no replacement called up in his place.”
Raphinha felt the problem during Brazil’s victory over Australia and was substituted at half-time after scoring from the penalty spot.
The 28-year-old had already impressed during the international break, creating a goal in Brazil’s 1-1 draw against Australia last week after completing the full 90 minutes.
His latest injury, however, has prompted Barcelona to monitor the situation closely.
Club sources indicate that Raphinha will undergo further examinations after returning to Spain. Barça are particularly cautious because the affected area is the same region where the forward suffered repeated problems last season.
Raphinha missed 25 matches for club and country during the 2025-26 campaign because of various hamstring injuries involving his right leg.
That injury history makes the timing of the latest setback particularly frustrating for Barcelona.
The Brazilian has been one of the standout performers at the start of the new campaign after Hansi Flick converted him into a central No.9.
The tactical switch has produced impressive numbers, with Raphinha scoring 14 goals in just eight appearances across all competitions for Barcelona.
His form has made him an increasingly important part of Flick’s attacking plans, meaning Barça will be eager to establish the full extent of the injury before deciding when he can return.
Barcelona’s next scheduled match is against Getafe at Spotify Camp Nou on October 10. A demanding run then follows, with Galatasaray, Paris Saint-Germain and Real Madrid among the opponents awaiting Flick’s side during a busy October schedule.
For now, Barcelona will wait for the results of Raphinha’s further tests before determining his recovery timeline.
The initial diagnosis offers some relief, with the CBF describing the muscle issue as minor. But given Raphinha’s previous injury record and Barcelona’s packed fixture list, the Catalan club will be keen to avoid rushing him back.
For a player who has started the season firing on all cylinders, the priority is now clear: get Raphinha fit, protect his recovery and avoid turning a minor thigh problem into another lengthy spell on the sidelines.
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