Barça star Raphinha misses next international match after thigh injury

In the half‑time break of Brazil's 4‑2 victory over Australia, the 29‑year‑old Barça star Raphinha had to leave the field after a thigh injury. The Brazilian attacking player, who has been playing for FC Barcelona since the start of the season, will now fly back to Catalonia early and miss the upcoming international match against India.

Injury details and initial assessment

The Brazilian football federation CBF described a mild muscle edema on the back of the right thigh and called the return to Barcelona a precautionary measure. In the first medical examination only a swelling was found, which is not classified as serious.

Impact on Barcelona and upcoming matches

Barcelona, which has won all eight league matches since the start of the season, now has to assess whether the league leaders will have to do without Raphinha after the international break. After eight league games the captain has already scored 14 goals and provided three assists, a loss that would be hard to compensate, as he struggled with muscular problems throughout last season.

The Spanish champions continue after the break on 10 October with a home league match against Getafe FC. At the end of the month follows the Champions League tie at PSG on 20 October and the Clasico against Real Madrid on 25 October – both games in which manager Hansi Flick would like to use Raphinha.

Further examinations in Barcelona are to provide a precise diagnosis and determine whether Raphinha will be out for longer. The Brazilian federation stresses that another appearance for Brazil would represent an unnecessary risk.