Raphinha injury leaves Brazil sweating over Scotland

Brazil have confirmed a right-thigh muscle injury for Raphinha after he was forced off against Haiti. The winger lasted 40 minutes in Brazil vs Haiti, which finished 3-0 to Brazil on 20 June 2026, and he is certain to miss Scotland on 24 June. For Barcelona, it is another headache around a player who has been central to their season too.

Brazil’s medical update

Carlo Ancelotti said the next step is an assessment. "Raphinha will be evaluated tomorrow. We still don't have much idea about what's happened to his hamstring," he told si.com.

That is the only sensible place to start. Brazil’s statement confirms a muscle injury to the back of his right thigh, but not a tear, and not a tournament-ending diagnosis. The dispute around the injury is still there, though the national team’s own wording is more cautious than the early alarm around the issue.

The scale of the setback is easier to see in the numbers around his season. Raphinha has 21 goals and 7 assists in 2026, which is why Brazil and Barcelona are treating this as a genuine problem rather than a routine knock. He also has a run of muscle issues behind him, with 23 games missed for club and country from two separate hamstring injuries in 2025-26.

What Brazil lose without him

Ancelotti has also made the value of his wide threat clear. "Raphinha is the best player in the world at attacking depth," he said.

Brazil still beat Haiti 3-0, and Matheus Cunha scored twice while Vinícius Júnior added a goal and an assist. Rayan, 19, came on for Raphinha when he went off, so Brazil do have options. But none of them replace the same blend of pace, width and direct threat that Raphinha gives them when he is fit.

The real issue now is time. Brazil’s next World Cup fixture is Scotland on 24 June 2026, and the winger is already ruled out of that one. After that, the knockout rounds will depend on how the treatment programme goes and what Brazil see when they test him again.