BARCELONA — Raphinha's blistering start for Barcelona has been halted by a right thigh injury, with the 29-year-old captain set to miss the club's next two fixtures after withdrawing from international duty with Brazil. The forward has scored 14 times with three assists during Barcelona's eight successive wins in all competitions, form that sparked debate after his omission from the 30-man Ballon d'Or shortlist, but he was substituted at half-time against Australia and now faces a spell on the sidelines.
"The tests show something," Barcelona boss Hansi Flick told the media. "It's not a serious injury, but we have to be careful because he had three injuries last year, and we have to take care of him." Flick defended Raphinha's decision to join Brazil, saying, "It's the national team and everyone wants to play for their national team. That's Raphinha's mentality. Always give 100%." He added, "We must reflect on whether it was necessary for him to play in Australia, travelling so many thousands of kilometres. It's incredible. They have to choose friendly matches and in Europe it is not possible because of the Nations League."
Raphinha has thrived as a false nine this season after veteran Poland striker Robert Lewandowski left the club, helping Barcelona sit top of La Liga five points clear of Atletico Madrid and Real Betis, with Real Madrid a point further back in fourth. Barcelona has been dominant at both ends with 36 goals scored and eight conceded, including a 5-1 thrashing of Feyenoord in its Champions League opener, and could equal the 2013-14 record for the best start to a La Liga season with an eighth straight league win against Getafe on Saturday. Fellow Brazilian Gabriel Jesus, a deadline-day arrival from Arsenal in September, is likely to cover the next two matches against Getafe and the European trip to Galatasaray, while Anthony Gordon, Dani Olmo and Karim Adeyemi could all play as a false nine if necessary.
The timing is awkward with demanding fixtures against Paris St-Germain and Real Madrid looming this month in the Champions League and La Liga. Raphinha's influence extends beyond numbers as captain and leader of Flick's aggressive, high-intensity approach, combining direct attacking play with relentless pressing. Fitness interrupted him last season when he was restricted to 33 appearances by recurring issues and a hamstring injury. He scored 21 goals in all competitions to help deliver the league title, scored twice in the Spanish Super Cup final against Real Madrid, and played seven times in the Champions League but missed the quarter-final defeat by Atletico Madrid. Barcelona will hope this setback is brief rather than the start of another injury cycle.