FIFA World Cup: Brazil suffer Raphinha injury scare in Haiti win

Brazil suffered an injury scare during their FIFA World Cup 2026 Group C clash against Haiti after forward Raphinha was forced off in the first half at Philadelphia Stadium on Friday.

In Short

• Raphinha went off in the 40th minute after pitch side treatment
• Cameras showed the winger distressed, clutching the back of his thigh
• Teenager Rayan came on for only his third senior Brazil appearance

Brazil were handed an injury scare during their 3-0 win over Haiti at the FIFA World Cup on Friday after winger Raphinha was forced off before half-time with an apparent muscle problem.

The Barcelona forward appeared uncomfortable during the closing stages of the first half and received treatment from Brazil's medical staff on the pitch before being substituted in the 40th minute. AFC Bournemouth teenager Rayan replaced him for what was only his third senior appearance for the national team.

Television cameras showed a visibly distressed Raphinha sitting on the turf as medical staff attended to him, while teammate Gabriel Magalhes offered words of encouragement before he left the field. The winger appeared to have picked up the injury off the ball, with reports suggesting he may have suffered a muscle strain after he was seen holding the back of his right thigh during discussions with the medical team.

The injury will be a concern for coach Carlo Ancelotti, who has relied heavily on Raphinha in recent months. The 29-year-old arrived at the World Cup following another productive season with Barcelona, scoring 15 goals and providing five assists as the Catalan club won La Liga and the Spanish Super Cup.

Raphinha has already endured an injury-disrupted campaign, having dealt with recurring hamstring issues during the season. Brazil will now await further medical assessment to determine the severity of the latest setback.

Despite losing one of their key attackers, Brazil were rarely troubled by Haiti. Matheus Cunha scored twice and Vinicius Junior added a third before half-time as the five-time world champions secured their first win of the tournament and moved to the top of Group C on four points.

Brazil are already managing concerns over Neymar's fitness, with the veteran forward missing his second consecutive match as he continues to recover from a calf injury sustained during the closing weeks of the club season with Santos.

Any extended absence for Raphinha would be another blow to Brazil's attacking depth ahead of their final group-stage match against Scotland, with the team still waiting for an official update on the winger's condition.

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