Raphinha's Recovery: Brazil's World Cup Risk and Reward

Brazil’s training base in New Jersey finally saw a familiar figure back on the grass. Raphinha, boots on, ball at his feet, cutting a solitary figure as he worked through his first individual session since a right thigh injury halted his World Cup before it had truly begun.

No teammates. No full drills. But a significant step.

The Barcelona winger, 29, has spent the group stage locked in a race against time with the Selecao medical staff, trying to shake off the muscle problem that forced him out of Brazil’s 3-0 win over Haiti in Philadelphia. That night he left the pitch distraught, convinced his World Cup might already be over.

The scan brought a different story. A strain, not a tear. Hope, not heartbreak.

Since then, while the rest of the squad enjoyed a scheduled break until Wednesday afternoon, Raphinha stayed behind, grinding through an intensive rehabilitation programme. Extra gym work. Controlled running. Ball work under the close eye of physios. Every session built around one goal: to be ready when the knockout rounds begin.

Dilemma for the Coaching Staff

The dilemma now belongs to Carlo Ancelotti and his staff.

The sight of Raphinha back on the ball is exactly what Brazil wanted before the round of 16 clash with Norway, yet the coaching and medical teams know the numbers all too well. This is the fifth time in the 2025-26 season he has suffered an issue in the same area. Barcelona felt it. Brazil felt it. Each return has carried a hint of risk.

So the tone inside the camp is cautious, not euphoric. ESPN reports that, despite encouraging progress, Raphinha remains a doubt for the Norway tie. His workload, response to training and muscle data are being checked daily. Ancelotti is expected to leave the final decision as late as possible: gamble now, or hold him back for a potential quarter-final if Brazil get there.

That question has grown sharper with Lucas Paqueta also in the treatment room after picking up a thigh problem against Japan. One creative outlet already compromised, another edging back but far from guaranteed. On paper, it looks like a storm.

Finding Solutions on the Pitch

On the pitch, Brazil have found a different answer.

In Raphinha’s absence, young Rayan has seized his chance in the starting XI, bringing a fresh, more unpredictable edge to the flank within Ancelotti’s system. The coaching staff see enough depth and variety in this squad to handle a round of 16 tie without forcing their Barcelona winger back before his body is ready.

Inside the camp, the message is clear: this World Cup is a marathon, not a sprint. Raphinha at 100 per cent in the latter stages is worth far more than a half-fit version rushed into a single knockout game, especially with a history of repeat injuries in the same thigh.

The winger’s return to the pitch in New Jersey proves the door is still open. Whether Brazil choose to walk him through it against Norway, or keep it closed for one more round, could define how far this campaign runs.