Raphinha will not play in Brazil's match against Norway in the round of 16 of the 2026 World Cup

Raphinha, the Barcelona winger, will not play in Brazil's upcoming match against Norway in the round of 16 of the 2026 World Cup. According to Mundo Deportivo, the Brazilian player has still not fully recovered from muscle problems that prevent him from training at full speed with the rest of Carlo Ancelotti's team. Therefore, Raphinha will not be able to play in this much-awaited match. Raphinha's injury occurred during Brazil's second World Cup match against Haiti, when the player felt discomfort in the back of his right thigh and had to leave the field before half-time. The Brazilian Football Confederation confirmed the injury and the medical staff decided to take a cautious approach to his rehabilitation. Due to this, Raphinha has already missed the 3-0 victory over Scotland in the group stage and the fierce clash with Japan, which ended with a 2-1 score for Brazil in the round of 16.  Despite earlier hopes that the player would return for the match against Norway, recent medical assessments have dashed these expectations. Raphinha only managed about 30 minutes of individual training as part of the rehabilitation program, which was not enough to convince the coaching staff to take him into the match. Carlo Ancelotti considered including the Barcelona winger in the squad, but final medical tests ruled out his appearance against Norway. Despite missing the match against Norway, there is optimism that Raphinha could return if Brazil progress to the World Cup quarter-finals. The Brazilian medical staff does not want to take unnecessary risks, especially considering the player's previous health problems. In the meantime, Barcelona's medical department is closely monitoring the situation and maintaining constant contact with their Brazilian counterparts. The Catalan club is eagerly awaiting Raphinha's full return to action, hoping that the next update on his health will bring more positive news ahead of the decisive moments of the tournament. --- ## Related Articles 1. [World Cup 2026](https://pitchpulsemedia.com/en/news/world-cup-what-to-watch-messis-argentina-vs-cape-verde-colombia-egypt-in-action) 2. [Are England Doomed to World Cup Failure After DR Congo Opener?](https://pitchpulsemedia.com/en/news/are-england-doomed-to-world-cup-failure-after-dr-congo-opener)