Raphinha Ruled Out of Brazil's World Cup Last-16 Clash Against Norway

Brazil will face NorwayTeam·Norway in the FIFA World CupCompetition·FIFA World Cup Round of 16 without the services of BarcelonaTeam·Barcelona star RaphinhaPlayer·Raphinha. The attacker has been officially ruled out of the crucial match, scheduled for July 5, 2026, in New Jersey, as he continues his recovery from a muscular injury.

RaphinhaPlayer·Raphinha, 29, suffered a tear of the biceps femoris in his right leg during Brazil's second Group C fixture against HaitiTeam·Haiti on June 19, 2026. This setback forced him to miss Brazil's subsequent group stage match against Scotland and their Round of 32 triumph over JapanTeam·Japan, where the five-time champions secured a 2-1 victory.

Despite returning to individual training earlier this week and subsequently rejoining group activities, the medical staff of the Brazilian Football Confederation is taking a cautious approach to his rehabilitation. According to a report from Mundo Deportivo, RaphinhaPlayer·Raphinha has not yet reached the intensity required to feature in competitive play.

"Raphinha is not expected to be available to play on Sunday."— Mundo Deportivo

While his absence is a significant blow, there is optimism that RaphinhaPlayer·Raphinha could make a return for the quarterfinals, should Brazil advance past Erling HaalandPlayer·Erling Haaland's NorwayTeam·Norway. He has remained at Brazil's training headquarters in New Jersey, undergoing an intensive rehabilitation program to expedite his recovery.

Brazil has demonstrated resilience in the tournament, progressing through the group stage and Round of 32 despite RaphinhaPlayer·Raphinha's absence. Their 3-0 victory over Scotland in the group stage and the subsequent win against JapanTeam·Japan underscore the squad's depth and ability to perform under pressure.

In related news, another BarcelonaTeam·Barcelona midfielder, Fermin LopezPlayer·Fermin Lopez, has been ruled out of the entire 2026 World Cup. Lopez sustained a fractured fifth metatarsal in his right foot during a Spanish league fixture in May 2026, requiring surgery and a recovery timeline that extends beyond the tournament's duration. Lopez had enjoyed an impressive season for BarcelonaTeam·Barcelona, scoring six La LigaCompetition·La Liga goals in 30 appearances and six times in the Champions LeagueCompetition·Champions League, and was expected to be named in Spain's World Cup squad prior to his injury. He was also part of the Spain squad that won the 2024 European Championship and the U23 team that secured a gold medal at the 2024 Paris Olympics. The Round of 16 matches are taking place from July 4 to July 7, 2026.