Raphinha substituted at halftime with right thigh discomfort in Brazil friendly

Brazilian forward Raphinha was substituted at halftime of Brazil's friendly against Australia on September 29, 2026, after reporting discomfort in his right thigh. Barcelona is monitoring his condition closely given his record-breaking start to the season (14 goals in eight matches) and previous injury history in the same area. Medical tests are pending to determine the severity and recovery timeline.

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Raphinha substituted at halftime
Discomfort reported in right thigh
Raphinha scored penalty to equalize at 2-2
Endrick came on as replacement
Raphinha slipped right before half-time

Brazilian forward Raphinha was taken off at halftime during Brazil's friendly against Australia on September 29, 2026, after reporting discomfort in his right thigh, according to a statement from the Brazilian Football Confederation. The substitution prompted immediate concern from Barcelona, who had already expressed worry about his fitness during the international break. Raphinha had scored a penalty to equalize Brazil's match at 2-2 in the opening 45 minutes before being replaced by Endrick at halftime.

The timing of the injury is particularly sensitive given Raphinha's exceptional start to the 2026–27 season with Barcelona. He has scored 14 goals in his first eight official matches—12 in the opening seven La Liga rounds—marking one of the best scoring beginnings in the club's history. Barcelona manager Hansi Flick had publicly expressed concern before the break about his players joining their national teams, citing the physical toll of travel and competition.

Raphinha's right thigh has been a recurring injury site. He suffered a muscular injury in the same area during Brazil's World Cup match against Haiti, keeping him sidelined for two subsequent matches. In March 2026, he sustained another muscular injury during Brazil's match against France and spent five weeks recovering. Sources indicated he had experienced multiple problems in the right thigh region during previous periods.

Barcelona now awaits medical tests to determine the severity of the injury. Brazilian media outlet Globo described the incident as "minor discomfort," though no definitive diagnosis has been confirmed. The decision to substitute Raphinha at halftime may have been precautionary, particularly given his recent involvement in two consecutive Australia friendlies and the demanding schedule of Brazil's international break, which included matches in Australia and planned fixtures in India.

Flick emphasized trust in the Brazilian national team's medical staff, though the club remains vigilant given Raphinha's history of returning from international breaks with physical issues. Whether he will be available for Barcelona's next LaLiga match depends on the results of forthcoming examinations and his recovery progress over the coming days.

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Raphinha's substitution creates immediate uncertainty for Barcelona's squad availability heading into La Liga fixtures. At a 14-goal pace in eight matches, his absence or reduced availability would materially affect Barcelona's attacking output for several weeks. Given his documented history of right thigh injuries (Haiti World Cup match, France friendly in March 2026) and recovery timelines of 2–5 weeks, the medical assessment will determine whether he misses upcoming league matches or returns with restrictions.

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