Barcelona forward Raphinha has expressed his determination to return to the World Cup this summer, despite being unable to participate in Wednesday’s final Group C match against Scotland in Miami.
The 29-year-old sustained a hamstring injury during Brazil’s 3-0 victory over Haiti last weekend and is now racing against time to make it back for the remainder of the tournament in North America.
According to ESPN Brasil, Raphinha aims to return for a potential round of 16 match, effectively ruling him out for the game against Scotland and the Seleção’s round-of-32 match. However, it may be more feasible for him to rejoin the team for the quarterfinals.
“I always set high expectations for myself and strive for improvement every day; that won’t change,” Raphinha shared on social media. “I will do everything I can to recover quickly and be back on the field. I want to support my teammates, contribute to our goals, and continue giving my all to honor this jersey and bring joy to Brazilian fans. I’m staying strong.”
Bournemouth winger Rayan stepped in for Raphinha against Haiti, and coach Carlo Ancelotti has indicated he has a “clear idea” of how to configure the team without the Barcelona player against Scotland.
Along with Rayan, other potential replacements include Arsenal‘s Gabriel Martinelli. Additionally, Neymar is available to return after missing Brazil’s first two World Cup matches due to injury.
This marks Raphinha’s fourth hamstring injury in the past year, resulting in him missing 24 games for club and country.
After sitting out Barça’s Champions League exit to Atlético Madrid in April, he made a comeback in May with two appearances for the Spanish champions, scoring twice.
– Scotland faces a crucial match against Brazil: will they make World Cup history?
– A look back at Scotland’s memorable World Cup golazo against Brazil in 1982.
– Scotland aims for a historic win against Brazil for their fans.
Raphinha was also involved in friendlies against Panama and Egypt prior to the World Cup, and he played the full 90 minutes in Brazil’s opening game against Morocco, which ended in a 1-1 draw.
Unfortunately, his appearance against Haiti lasted just 40 minutes, as he was taken off before halftime after a brace from Matheus Cunha and a goal from Vinícius Júnior secured Brazil’s first win of the finals.