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Brazil is anxiously monitoring the condition of key winger Raphinha, who was forced off before the break in the Seleção's victory against Haiti in their second fixture of the 2026 World Cup.
The five-time world champions cruised to a commanding 3–0 victory over Haiti on Friday evening to make a strong start in North America. As convincing as the result was, it was far from flawless, particularly with Raphinha departing through injury before halftime.
The Barcelona winger pulled up sharply and dropped to the turf, immediately gesturing to the dugout that he was unable to carry on. After receiving treatment on the field, he hobbled off and was substituted 40 minutes into the match.
A large ice pack was applied to the forward's hamstring as he watched the remainder of the game from the bench. Brazil managed to secure their first victory of the 2026 World Cup, but attention is now firmly fixed on the fitness of one of Carlo Ancelotti's most crucial players.
What Injury Does Raphinha Have?
"Raphinha will be assessed tomorrow," Ancelotti said following Brazil's win on Friday night. "We still don't have a clear picture of what has happened to his hamstring."
The Brazilian football federation provided additional information regarding Raphinha's latest injury concern.
"The attacker experienced pain in his hamstring muscle during the first half against Haiti," Brazil stated, via Mundo Deportivo. "The player has already begun treatment and will be re-assessed."
It is a worrying development for Raphinha, who has been plagued by hamstring troubles over the past year. The 29-year-old missed 23 matches for club and country due to two separate hamstring injuries throughout 2025–26.
He was sidelined for over a month on each occasion, with the second setback occurring while on international duty with Brazil during the March break, ruling him out of Barcelona's decisive Champions League and La Liga fixtures.
Both Raphinha and Brazil will be hoping further assessments bring positive news, but given his recent injury record, there are genuine fears the star forward could be ruled out of the remainder of the 2026 World Cup.
Who Can Replace Raphinha For Brazil in 2026 World Cup?
"Raphinha is the finest player in the world when it comes to attacking in behind," Ancelotti remarked recently. Replacing what Raphinha brings both on and off the ball will be an enormous challenge, but others may be called upon to rise to the occasion.
Rayan, 19, was Ancelotti's choice to come on following Raphinha's withdrawal. The teenage Bournemouth winger is an exciting prospect, though he struggled to make an impact against Haiti. Nevertheless, his ability is clear, and he looks set to be the frontrunner to fill the Barcelona winger's role going forward.
Other options include Zenit winger Luiz Henrique and Arsenal's Gabriel Martinelli, though both are far more comfortable on the left flank, a position Vinicius Junior has firmly claimed as his own. That said, Ancelotti may have little choice but to use them on the right.
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Adjusting the formation to accommodate two strikers is another possibility. Matheus Cunha is well-suited to playing alongside a partner up front, meaning Igor Thiago could come in to form a striking duo with him. Endrick is also a contender after an encouraging World Cup debut.
Finally, if there was ever a moment when Brazil truly needed Neymar Jr. back to full fitness, it is now. The Seleção's all-time leading scorer is expected to be available for the next match against Scotland, according to Ancelotti. Should Raphinha fail to recover in time, the spotlight is on Neymar to make his long-awaited return to Brazil's colors for the first time in nearly three years.