Brazil winger Raphinha ruled out of Norway round of 16 clash
Brazil have suffered a major fitness blow ahead of their World Cup knockout campaign with the news that Barcelona winger Raphinha has been ruled out of Sunday’s round of 16 clash against Norway.
Reports from Spanish newspaper Mundo Deportivo confirm the 29-year-old international has failed to regain full fitness following a muscle injury sustained earlier in the tournament. While he will miss the high-stakes encounter, there remains a glimmer of hope that he could feature in the quarter-finals should the Seleção progress.
Raphinha’s tournament took a frustrating turn when he limped off before half-time against Haiti with a hamstring issue, a diagnosis later verified by the Brazilian Football Confederation. The setback has severely disrupted his campaign, forcing the forward to sit out Brazil’s final group stage fixture against Scotland and their recent 2-1 round of 32 victory over Japan.
The player’s ongoing fitness struggles have prompted close collaboration between Barcelona’s medical department and the national team’s staff. Both parties are closely managing his recovery, particularly given a string of recurring muscle problems that have plagued his club season.
Despite undergoing tailored individual training sessions in a bid to prove his readiness, a final medical assessment ruled him out of Sunday’s match. The news comes as a significant disappointment to head coach Carlo Ancelotti, who had been eager to unleash the dynamic winger against the Norwegians.
