Striker Raphinha is preparing for an important challenge this Friday (19) when he enters the field as a starter against Haiti. The match, valid for the second round of the 2026 World Cup, marks the player’s quest for his first participation in goals in the tournament. He missed out in the 2022 edition and also in the debut of the current World Cup, but has the full support of coach Carlo Ancelotti for the sequence with the Brazil shirt.
Aware of the expectations and comparisons between his performance at club and national team, Raphinha assessed his recent trajectory. He acknowledged that the performance in the national team, although good, was not identical to that presented in his team, Barcelona. The athlete, however, stated that the demand to replicate the club’s football in the Seleção reflects the capacity he possesses.
After a discreet performance in the previous game against Morocco, the right winger intensifies his search for scoring or assisting in a World Cup. Raphinha failed to directly participate in any goals in his five appearances at the 2022 World Cup in Qatar.
Raphinha’s games at the 2022 World Cup:
- Serbia: played as a starter for 87 minutes.
- Switzerland: started the match and played for 73 minutes.
- Cameroon: entered the second half, participating for 11 minutes.
- South Korea: remained on the field for the 90 minutes as a starter.
- Croatia: started and played for 56 minutes.
The player consolidated his position as an absolute starter for the Brazilian team at the end of 2021, standing out at the time for Leeds United, in England. His arrival on the national team had an immediate impact, with two assists in the 3-1 victory over Venezuela, in the 2022 World Cup qualifiers, establishing himself in the position since then.
Over the last few years, the striker has risen to the level of one of the main names in global football. His transfer to Barcelona involved around 60 million euros, and he was a key player in the club’s conquest of three Spanish championships. With the yellow shirt, Raphinha has accumulated 11 goals and eight assists in 40 matches, numbers higher than those of Vini Jr, who has 18 goal contributions in 50 games. This contrast highlights the expectations surrounding his performance in major tournaments with the national team, despite his positive record.
Despite his success at Barcelona, Raphinha still seeks to replicate the same level of football in major competitions for the Brazilian team. His only direct goal contribution in a major tournament for Brazil was a great free kick against Colombia in the 2024 Copa América.
Coach Carlo Ancelotti’s confidence in the striker
Carlo Ancelotti expressed his great confidence in Raphinha, stating that the player has the ability to play in different positions in attack and always performs at a high level. The Italian coach emphasized the need for calm and patience, declaring that the attacker has his full support as he considers him one of the best players in the world.
These statements by Ancelotti were made at the press conference on the eve of the clash against Haiti, which will take place in Philadelphia. The coach reaffirmed his perception that the Barcelona athlete is among the main talents in world football.
Raphinha started seven of the 13 games played under the command of Carlo Ancelotti in the Brazilian national team. The striker missed half of his commitments due to two separate injuries, which intensified competition in the position with the emergence of names like Estêvão, Luiz Henrique and Rayan. Even in the face of these obstacles, Ancelotti maintained an attitude of unrestricted trust in the player.
Raphinha himself commented on the impact of injuries on his season, regretting his absence from the national team’s games. He guaranteed, however, that he will always deliver his maximum when he is on the field for Brazil.
The player also confirmed Ancelotti’s total trust, revealing that the coach was already following his work in Spain. Raphinha mentioned that the two had several conversations and maintained a good relationship, even when they played for rival teams in Spanish football.
Details about Raphinha’s positioning in Ancelotti’s tactical scheme
Ancelotti has shown great appreciation for Raphinha’s football, especially in building the duo with Vini Jr. The striker, who began his journey with the national team playing on the right wing, adapted to playing on the left for the Spanish club. The Brazilian coach seeks to replicate this positioning in the national team, exploring the best way to fit it tactically.
Coach Carlo Ancelotti clarified that he does not expect Raphinha to play as a center forward, but rather close to the defense line to explore the depth. He described the player as the best in the world in this aspect, highlighting the importance of his deeper position to attack the back of the opponent’s defense, although it grants freedom to the athlete in possession of the ball.
The Brazilian team returns to the pitch this Friday, with the game scheduled for 9:30 pm (Brasília time). The clash against Haiti in the second round of the World Cup will be held in Philadelphia, in the United States.